Moscow will continue nuclear cooperation with Iran: Russian minister

TEHRAN, Sept.12(MNA) – Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said that Moscow will definitely continue its nuclear cooperation with Tehran.

Shmatko made the remarks during a joint press conference with Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi in Tehran on Sunday.

The meeting was held after the ninth meeting of Iran-Russia joint economic commission, which was chaired by Shmatko and Salehi.

The Russian energy minister arrived in the Iranian capital on the same day to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which is scheduled to be held in the southern port city of Bushehr tomorrow.

During the press conference, Shmatko, according to a translation of his remarks, said, “I would like to express with certainty that we will have more cooperation with Iran on the Bushehr nuclear power plant and other projects to develop nuclear energy.”

“The inauguration ceremony of the Bushehr power plant will be held tomorrow, and this project, which was an unprecedented one, will be completed tomorrow (on Monday),” he added.

Shmatko also said, “I am completely familiar with the Bushehr power plant project, and we take pride in it. And the Bushehr plant has attracted the attention of the world since it was unprecedented.”

The inauguration of the plant will pave the way for further cooperation between the two countries, he stated.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Shmatko commented on his talks with the Iranian foreign minister and said, “We are completely satisfied with the negotiations and emphasize that Russia is keen to cooperate with Iran” in implementing gas and oil projects.