Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia will continue assisting Iran in developing a nuclear energy programme and was convinced Iran was not using the technology for weapons despite U.S. concerns to the contrary. "Iran's recent actions have convinced us that it indeed has no intention of producing nuclear weapons," Putin said at talks with Iranian Security Council chief Hasan Rowhani. "This means we shall continue cooperation in all spheres, including nuclear power generation." Putin also confirmed his intention to visit Iran at a later date. The Iranian security official arrived in Moscow Thursday for two days of consultations on international security issues and the completion by Russia of a 1,000-megawatt reactor at the southern Gulf port of Bushehr. Russian Nuclear Power Minister Alexander Rumyantsev was due to visit Teheran next week to sign protocols on the supply and return of spent nuclear fuel to Russia. These logistics will remove the last obstacle to opening the Bushehr plant at the end of the year. --More 2351 Local Time 2051 GMT
