Iranian Nuclear Assertions Unproven, Russia Says

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that no “objective data” exists to prove that Iran is developing nuclear weapons, although the international community should push the country to disclose details of its nuclear program, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Oct. 9).

“We proceed from an assumption that Iran has no [nuclear weapons] plans,” Putin said after meeting with French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

“We are sharing our partners' concern about making all Iranian programs transparent,'” he said.  “We agreed yesterday, and the president confirmed it, that Iran is making certain steps toward the international community to achieve that.”

Putin is expected to make his first trip to Iran next week to attend a summit of Caspian Sea nations.

“After the trip, there could be a will to cooperate — that is essential,” he said (Associated Press/New York Times, Oct. 10).

Meanwhile, Iranian state media said yesterday that Iran has planned to give details on its uranium-enriching centrifuges to the U.N. nuclear watchdog following the arrival of an International Atomic Energy Agency delegation in Tehran, RIA Novosti reported (RIA Novosti, Oct. 9).

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