TEHRAN -- In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) announced that Iran has paid all the money owed to the Russian contractor AtomStroyExport (ASE) up to March 1, 2007 within the framework of the contract.

The banking documents of the payments are available for publication, the statement added.

Russia has suggested that it may delay delivering nuclear fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant, claiming Iran has not paid the bill.

However, the AEOI said $12.7 million is currently at the disposal of the ASE company.

According to the first agreement signed between Iran and Russia, the project was to be completed on July 8, 1999, but has been delayed five times through different talks and commitments by the contractor; yet, even if the plant goes on stream in September 2007, again, the project would be nearly eight years and three months behind schedule, the AEOI statement noted.

The Iranian people and government expect Russia to abide by its commitment to deliver fuel to the Bushehr plant by the end of March, the statement said in conclusion.