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Russia backs Iran nuclear rights Russia backs Iran nuclear rights
(about 2 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for historic talks focusing on Iran's nuclear programme. Russia's President Vladimir Putin has offered qualified support for Iran's nuclear programme on a visit to Tehran.
Tehran is seeking Russian help in fending off UN sanctions and completing its first nuclear reactor at Bushehr. Mr Putin told journalists that "peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed" and cautioned against using force to resolve the dispute over Iran.
A Putin aide said the first visit to Tehran by a Kremlin leader since World War II focused on ensuring the "soonest completion" of the Bushehr project. But he was evasive when asked whether the Bushehr nuclear plant Russia is building would be finished on time or if Moscow would supply nuclear fuel.
Earlier, the two men attended a summit of leaders from the Caspian Sea area. Iran wants Russian help in its dispute with the West over its nuclear aims.
Following his meeting with Mr Ahmadinejad, Mr Putin is scheduled to hold talks with Iran's powerful spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Crucial backing
At the centre of the bilateral talks is Iran's dispute with the West over its nuclear programme.
Russia is helping to complete Bushehr's nuclear reactor
Tehran's refusal to end uranium enrichment has led the US and other Western countries to press for a new round of UN sanctions.
Washington is convinced that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons - a charge Iran denies - and has refused to rule out the use of force to resolve the issue.
The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that the talks are crucial for the Iranians.
Up to now Moscow has blocked any new UN sanctions, saying it wants to enable the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to work with Iran on clearing up outstanding issues.Up to now Moscow has blocked any new UN sanctions, saying it wants to enable the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, to work with Iran on clearing up outstanding issues.
But Moscow is seeking Iranian compromise over the issue, says the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran.
Iran 'peaceful'
Mr Putin met Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for talks after the two men joined the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan for a summit of the leaders of nations surrounding the Caspian Sea.
Russia is helping to complete Bushehr's nuclear reactor
Heavy security measures were in place amid reports of an alleged plot to kill Mr Putin - reports Mr Putin has shrugged off.
At a news conference, Mr Putin pointed out that the Caspian Sea leaders had signed a declaration which "expressed the idea that peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed".
In the declaration, the leaders also pledged not to allow their territory "for waging aggression or other military action against any of the parties".
Azerbaijan - a US ally - has repeatedly said it would not allow American troops to use its territory to attack neighbouring countries.
Washington has refused to rule out using force against Iran, which it accuses of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons - a charge which Tehran vehemently denies.
Later on Tuesday Mr Putin also held talks with Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Russian president said Moscow had an interest in a "strong Iran" and that he wanted deeper ties with the country, state television reported.
Bushehr difficulties
But Mr Putin was evasive about some aspects of Russia's support for Iran.
He refused to confirm whether Moscow would supply the Iranian nuclear plant at Bushehr with nuclear fuel once it is complete, or say whether the plant's construction would be finished speedily.
If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home Vladimir Putin Iran and Russia uneasy allies Press intrigued by visit 'Plot' overshadows Berlin tripIf I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home Vladimir Putin Iran and Russia uneasy allies Press intrigued by visit 'Plot' overshadows Berlin trip
As well as wanting to secure continued diplomatic help in preventing sanctions, Iran also wants to ensure it gets more Russian technical assistance. Mr Putin blamed legal and financial difficulties for the delays that have long dogged the completion of the $1bn building programme undertaken by Russia.
The government hopes Mr Putin will confirm that Moscow will complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor being built by Russian engineers. But he said Moscow would not renege on its commitments to complete the plant.
The $1bn programme has been dogged by delays, with Moscow saying Tehran is behind with its payments and Iran accusing Russia of dragging its feet for political reasons, our correspondent says.
'Worn-out equipment'
Following his meeting with Mr Ahmadinejad, Mr Putin blamed technical problems and "worn-out equipment" for the delays in completing the project.
Mr Putin refused to set a date for the power plant's start-up but stressed that Moscow would not renege on its commitment to complete the reactor's construction.
In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran
His careful stance suggested Russia is attempting to retain firm ties with Iran without angering the United States, commentators suggest.His careful stance suggested Russia is attempting to retain firm ties with Iran without angering the United States, commentators suggest.
It is not clear quite how much support Mr Putin is prepared to give Iran in its showdown with the West.It is not clear quite how much support Mr Putin is prepared to give Iran in its showdown with the West.
In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran
Mr Putin will certainly be calling for more flexibility from the Iranian government over the nuclear issue and no-one should forget the deep legacy of suspicion that exists between Russia and Iran, our correspondent says.Mr Putin will certainly be calling for more flexibility from the Iranian government over the nuclear issue and no-one should forget the deep legacy of suspicion that exists between Russia and Iran, our correspondent says.
Moscow has called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, urging the international community to show patience. Moscow has urged the international community to show patience in its dealings with Iran.
"It is futile to frighten Iran and its people - they are not scared," Mr Putin said before the visit."It is futile to frighten Iran and its people - they are not scared," Mr Putin said before the visit.
Caspian pledge It is the first visit to Tehran by a Kremlin leader since World War II.
At the earlier summit of Caspian Sea leaders, Mr Putin and Mr Ahmadinejad joined the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan in signing a declaration pledging their countries would never be used for an attack on another littoral state.
CASPIAN SEA Largest enclosed body of water on Earth by areaVariously classified as a lake or seaBordered by Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and TurkmenistanEnergy rich, with evidence of large oil and gas reservesHome to caviar-producing sturgeon
Mr Putin used the meeting to warn against any military attack on Iran and to support its right to nuclear energy.
He told a press conference after the meeting that the five countries had "expressed the idea that peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed".
Mr Putin travelled to Tehran from Germany where he met Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks somewhat overshadowed by an alleged assassination plot against him.