MOSCOW SIGNS NEW NUCLEAR ACCORD WITH TEHRAN.

Russia’s deputyatomic energy minister Yevgeny Reshetnikov told Itar-Tass August24 that Moscow had reached an agreement with Tehran to supplynuclear fuel to an Iranian nuclear plant. Despite American objectionsto the deal, "nothing can stop the implementation of theRussian-Iranian contract to build an atomic energy complex"there, Reshetnikov said. But he suggested that the deal wouldnot allow Iran to build a nuclear weapon: "Only those whoare absolutely incompetent in the field of atomic energy are sayingthat the station can be used to create an atomic bomb." Meanwhile,the Russian prosecutor has opened a criminal case against theatomic energy ministry for exceeding its authority in trying toprotect nuclear materials from theft, Russian radio reported August23.

Duma Preparing Laws to Lift Sanctions on Rogue States.