Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Wednesday lashed out against assertions that Russia is helping Iran acquire nuclear weapons, the Interfax news agency reported.

"All assertions that Russia is facilitating the acquisition of nuclear weapons by Iran are absolutely unfounded," Lavrov said in an interview with the Lebanon-based al-Watan al-Arabi magazine.

"Russia and Iran so far have no other nuclear energy projects except the Bushehr nuclear power plant," Lavrov said, emphasizing that according to a fuel supply deal signed by Moscow and Tehran earlier this year, Iran must return the plant's spent nuclear fuel to Moscow.

"Our cooperation with Iran, which is under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, is absolutely transparent, " Lavrov said.

Asked whether Moscow agrees with allegations that Iran will acquire a nuclear bomb in the next few years, the top Russian diplomat answered: "The question is incorrect."

"If we knew that Iran had such a plan, we would never cooperate with them in the nuclear sector," he said.

The United States has accused Iran of using a civilian atomic energy program as a cover to seek nuclear weapons and pushed for Tehran's nuclear case to be referred to the UN Security Council.

Iran has categorically denied the charge, insisting that its nuclear research is only for peaceful purposes.

Being built with Russian help in Iran's southern port city of Bushehr, Iran's first nuclear power plant is slated to begin operations in late 2006 and will generate 1,000 megawatts of electricity.

Source: Xinhua