950827

Russia to

provide Iran

with 2 more

N-reactors

LONDON: Russia is to supply Iran with two more nuclear reactors to equip a suspected weapons development complex, under a secret deal signed recently in Moscow, the Sunday Telegraph reported.

"The new deal for two 400 megawatt reactors was struck after a Moscow visit this month by an Iranian delegation," the paper said.

It added: "The reactors are destined for the Neka nuclear research complex in Iran's remote northern region (which) is understood by western intelligence to be part of Iran's research programme to develop its own atomic weapons."

Russia has already agreed to provide Iran with a 1,000 megawatt nuclear reactor which is to start installation at Bushehr in the south of the country at the end of the year.

The United States tried fruitlessly to halt the deal, saying it would assist Tehran's nuclear weapons programme.

The conservative Telegraph's rival the Sunday Times, quoting "western intelligence officials," meanwhile claimed that Iran was receiving help from Russia in developing biological weapons.

Despite the headline "Russia helps Iran to build bio-weapons" the paper admitted that "Despite intensive investigation, western experts are not sure if the Russian involvement has the covert support of Moscow or if it is a freelance effort by rogue elements in the Russian military, or even powerful Russian organised crime groups."-AFP