英语文摘：Russian FM defends Iran nuclear power plant

MOSCOW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that the Bushehr nuclear power plant construction in Iran promotes the non-proliferation regime.

"It is the most important anchor holding Iran to the non-proliferation regime," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Lavrov as saying.

He stressed that the construction of the plant was absolutely secure against any risks or proliferation.

"It was under the full control of the International Atomic Energy Agency," he said.

The Russian Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) said last week that the launch of the Bushehr nuclear power plant has been set for Aug. 21.

The nuclear plant construction started in 1975 by several German construction companies. After the U.S. imposed embargo on hi-tech supplies to Iran after the 1979 revolution, Russia signed a contract with Iran to complete the construction in 1998.

West powers suspect Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons despite Tehran's claims that it will be used only for generation of civilian energy.