Russia and Iran Agreed on Civil Nuclear Cooperation

Russia and Iran agreed to increase Civil Nuclear Cooperation during the meet which took place on the sidelines of a Caspian summit in Baku, capital of Azerbaijan on 18 November 2010. Russia and Iran reached the agreement at a meeting between Russian President Dimitry Medvedev and the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadninijad.

Russia-Iran agreement on Civil Nuclear Cooperation was reached despite the international sanctions imposed on Iran’s nuclear programme. According to Russia, civil nuclear cooperation between the two nations would be in accordance with IAEA requirements and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.Iran’s first nuclear power plant in Bushehr was built with Russian assistance.

Russia held the meeting to mend its diplomatic ties with Iran which was worsened because Russia had supported UN Security Council sanctions in early 2010. Russia had also cancelled a defence deal with Iran to sell it Russian air-defence systems.

Baku Summit was participated by five coastal states of Caspian Sea namely Russia Iran, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan.