RUSSIA - Aug. 1 - US Hits Moscow Over Iran 'Arms' Programme.

US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham tells a press conference in Moscow that Washington regards Moscow's co-operation with Tehran's nuclear programme with the "utmost concern" and is raising its worries "at the highest level". He says that given the "vast natural resources" of Iran, the US administration has long been convinced that the only reason for development of a civil nuclear programme was to support the development of nuclear weapons. Separately, US ambassador to Moscow Alexander Vershbow says the US has concerns about "potential assistance" provided by Moscow to Iran for the development of chemical, biological and nuclear weapons, as well as the transfer of advanced conventional weapons. (The US remarks on weapons proliferation mirror briefings provided by US intelligence agencies to politicians in Washington in recent weeks, although the Bush administration has not provided any evidence to Moscow or more precise details of its allegations. Despite US pressure, Moscow has maintained its $800m contract for the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power station in Iran, and stated its desire last week to extend co-operation with the Islamic Republic further). Later, a Kremlin spokesman said Moscow intended to maintain its existing bilateral co-operation programme with Iran, and the nuclear programme "has nothing to do with proliferation". He stressed that Moscow also respected all its international obligations on non-proliferation.