The Russian deputy nuclear energy minister on Friday said that his country is determined to fulfill its commitments regarding the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant despite all the pressures and negative propaganda. He also categorically rejected the claims by some Western countries that Iran could use the power plant for military purposes.

The U.S. administration and Zionist circles every now and then make allegations that the Islamic Republic is seeking to acquire weapons of mass destruction. In the latest instance of such allegations, the U.S. daily **Christian Science Monitor** on June 21 claimed that Russian military experts have provided Iran with technology for the manufacture of nuclear weapons! The daily said U.S. officials have announced that there is evidence indicating that Russia has transferred technology to Iran that could be used to manufacture nuclear weapons, but the daily made no reference to the evidence the U.S. officials claim they possess! It has become quite clear by now that these unfounded and undocumented accusations are part of the U.S. and Zionist smear campaign against the Islamic Republic. In fact, the U.S. administration follows specific objectives by making false claims about peaceful nuclear cooperation between Tehran and Moscow. Among these objectives are undermining relations between the Islamic Republic and Russia, which are strategically significant and serve the interests of both sides as well as the entire region.

Furthermore, another motive behind the U.S. negative propaganda is Washington's intention to isolate Tehran internationally, although the futility of such attempts has already been proven, considering the expansion of relations between the Islamic Republic and other countries, including U.S. allies.

As far as Iran's nuclear cooperation with Russia is concerned, Tehran follows a transparent policy in this regard, as Iranian nuclear facilities are regularly visited by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who have always certified that Iran's nuclear programs are for peaceful purposes.

Besides, the Islamic Republic is a signatory to all conventions and treaties banning the proliferation of nuclear weapons and is firmly committed to these treaties, as often reaffirmed by international inspectors.

Above all, the U.S. allegations against Iran seem to be aimed at diverting attention from the stockpiling of nuclear arms by the Zionist entity, which has over 200 nuclear warheads in its arsenal. This is why Tel Aviv has never allowed the IAEA inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities and never signed any non-proliferation treaties.

Indeed, Israel's nuclear arsenal poses the most serious threat to regional as well as world security. Nevertheless, the Zionist regime receives the greatest amount of military assistance from Washington and enjoys its maximum financial and political support. This is a clear instance of the U.S. double standard on nuclear proliferation.