MOSCOW, March 13 (UPI) -- Russia will not supply fuel as scheduled to the Iranian nuclear plant it is building, and has delayed its opening.
"It will be impossible to launch the reactor in September, and there can be no talk about supplying fuel this month," Atomstroyexport, the Russian state-owned firm building the plant, said in a statement.
It came after days of speculation and meetings between the company and officials from Iran's nuclear agency. Russia has accused Iran of delaying $25 million in monthly payments for the $1 billion reactor in Bushehr, Iran, the Washington Post reports.
Iran denies the charge, and has accused Moscow of politicizing the delivery of uranium as part of the ongoing row over its nuclear program. The U.N. Security Council has approved limited sanctions against Iran for not halting its uranium enrichment program. Iran says it has the sovereign right to develop uranium to fuel its nuclear plants for energy purposes. A U.S.-led coalition accuses Tehran of weapons ambitions.
Russia has supported Iran, but urged it to comply with U.N. nuclear inspectors. An Russian news agencies are reporting an anonymous official said: "We will not play with them in anti-American games."
