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Putin in Iran for landmark visit Russia backs Iran nuclear rights
(about 3 hours later)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has met his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during the first visit to Tehran by a Kremlin leader since 1943. Russian President Vladimir Putin has met his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for historic talks focusing on Iran's nuclear programme.
Earlier, the two presidents attended a summit of heads of countries in the Caspian Sea area. Tehran is seeking Russian help in fending off UN sanctions and completing its first nuclear reactor at Bushehr.
Iran's nuclear programme is topping the agenda, with the BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran saying Iran is seeking Russian help in fending off new UN sanctions. 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.
The visit went ahead despite Kremlin warnings of an assassination threat. Earlier, the two men attended a summit of leaders from the Caspian Sea area.
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 Following his meeting with Mr Ahmadinejad, Mr Putin is scheduled to hold talks with Iran's powerful spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The alleged plot to kill the Russian president prompted Mr Putin's staff to cast doubt on the trip, only for the president to announce that he was not deterred. Crucial backing
The Iranian government played down the threat. At the centre of the bilateral talks is Iran's dispute with the West over its nuclear programme.
Iran's refusal to end uranium enrichment has led to the US and other Western countries pressing for a new round of UN sanctions. 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.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 Russians are helping with Bushehr nuclear power stationAt the meeting of the five states bordering the Caspian Sea - Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan - the countries' leaders signed a declaration agreeing to never allow their territory to be used for an attack on another littoral state. The BBC's Jon Leyne in Tehran says that the talks are crucial for the Iranians.
"The parties emphasise that in no circumstances will they allow their territory to be used by a third country to commit aggression or other military action against one of the parties," AFP news agency quoted the text as saying. 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.
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".
"Russia is the only country helping Iran to construct a nuclear power station for peaceful ends," he added, in reference to Iran's still unfinished first nuclear energy plant in Bushehr.
As well as meeting President Ahmadinejad, Mr Putin will hold talks with Iran's powerful spiritual leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Building plan
Our correspondent in Tehran says that the talks are crucial for the Iranians. Until now Moscow has been blocking 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.
As well as wanting to secure diplomatic help in preventing sanctions, Iran also wants to ensure continued Russian technical assistance.
The government hopes Mr Putin will confirm that Moscow will complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor being built by Russian engineers.
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
The 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. As well as wanting to secure continued diplomatic help in preventing sanctions, Iran also wants to ensure it gets more Russian technical assistance.
The government hopes Mr Putin will confirm that Moscow will complete the Bushehr nuclear reactor being built by Russian engineers.
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.
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.
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 called for a peaceful resolution of the dispute, urging the international community to show patience.
"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.
Suicide bomb threat Caspian pledge
Mr Putin travelled to Tehran from Germany where he met Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks somewhat overshadowed by the alleged assassination plot. 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.
In 1943 Stalin joined Roosevelt and Churchill for a summit in Tehran 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
Russian media had quoted unnamed security sources as saying suicide bombers and kidnappers were plotting to kill Mr Putin in Tehran. Mr Putin used the meeting to warn against any military attack on Iran and to support its right to nuclear energy.
Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the BBC that such reports were "very serious". He told a press conference after the meeting that the five countries had "expressed the idea that peaceful nuclear activities must be allowed".
But the Russian president dismissed the claims, telling reporters: "Of course I am going to Iran. Mr Putin travelled to Tehran from Germany where he met Chancellor Angela Merkel for talks somewhat overshadowed by an alleged assassination plot against him.
"If I listened to what the security services said, I would never leave my home."