Iran and Russia Trade Agreements - 2002-07-27

Russia has announced that it has signed a new trade agreement with Iran, which includes the construction of six new nuclear reactors in Iran. This action is expected to face strong objections from the White House. Russian officials announced the details of this new deal with Iran yesterday in Moscow. Four nuclear power plants are to be built in Bushehr in southern Iran, where the construction of a controversial power plant by Russia has already begun. Moscow insists that these plants will only serve peaceful purposes. However, the U.S. has continuously criticized Russia's support for Iran's nuclear programs. Washington claims that the Islamic Republic regime supports terrorism and fears that the Iranian government will exploit Russian technology to produce nuclear weapons. President Bush has labeled Iran as part of an 'axis of evil' and stated that the Iranian regime poses a threat to global security. Relations between the U.S. and Iran have steadily deteriorated in recent months. Last week, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led a widespread demonstration across Iran against the U.S., stating that these protests prove that Iranians do not seek democratic reforms. Earlier in the week, Mohammad Khatami, the Iranian president who has been labeled a reformist, accused Washington of fueling the flames of war in the fight against terrorism. Khatami condemned U.S. policies, which he claims are humiliating for Iran.