Russia Denies Illegal Iran Deals

Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin insisted Monday that Russia is sticking to its promise not to transfer nuclear weapons technology to Iran.

"We are true to our commitments and we shall never depart from them," Chernomyrdin said. "We have not transferred and will not transfer anything to Iran."

Chernomyrdin spoke to reporters before departing for Washington. He and Vice President Al Gore are to attend the 10th session of the Chernomyrdin-Gore commission, which meets twice a year to boost cooperation between Russia and the United States.

On the agenda will be a U.S. proposal offering Russia an opportunity to expand its lucrative satellite launching business if Moscow agrees to clamp down on any of the missile technology sales, The New York Times reported Monday.

The offer, conveyed confidentially in advance of the meeting, could be worth millions of dollars to Russian companies and their American partners, The Times said.

"We are prepared to go forward and enhance cooperation in this area, but we cannot do it in the absence of progress on the Iran ballistic missile front," a senior Clinton administration official was quoted by the Times as saying.

A major stumbling block in relations has been the nuclear power plant Russia is building in Bushehr, Iran. Washington strongly opposes it, fearing it might help Iran get access to technology for its suspected nuclear weapons program.

The two leaders are to talk about implementing a decree signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin in January that would prevent the export of so-called dual-use technologies that can be used to build missiles, nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

Moscow insists that it is no longer supplying missile technology to Iran. Russian officials have said they have foiled attempts by Russian companies to provide Iran with dual-use technology.

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