Israel's Haaretz daily reported that during Olmert's visit to Moscow last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured the premier that Moscow would not supply nuclear fuel to the Islamic Republic, where Russians have nearly finished building a nuclear power plant.
The prime minister's press office said he had been misquoted, and that the actual words were: "I can reveal one detail of my meeting with Russian President Putin last week. Russia has not as yet decided whether to supply nuclear fuel to Iran, in spite of all the declarations and the rumors."
Olmert met with President Vladimir Putin last Thursday, a day after the Russian leader returned from a summit of Caspian States in Iran. During the talks in the Kremlin, the prime minister urged Putin to support international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program. The Kremlin confirmed that the sides had discussed Tehran, but did not give a detailed account of the negotiations.
The Israeli paper quoted Olmert as telling a meeting with Jewish groups in London on Tuesday: "I can reveal one detail of my meeting with Russian President Putin last week. Russia has decided not to supply nuclear fuel to Iran, in spite of all the declarations and the rumors. Russia understands the implications of its decision, and understands that the international community expects it not to supply that nuclear fuel."
The Israeli premier held a meeting with British Prime Minister Gordon Brown earlier on Tuesday, at which Brown agreed to push for stronger sanctions against Iran, both through the European Union and the United Nations Security Council.
During his visit to Tehran last week, President Vladimir Putin said there was no firm evidence that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. He also said Russia would complete the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in southern Iraq, and that Russia would supply nuclear fuel to the country.
Russian nuclear equipment export monopoly Atomstroyexport has been building Iran's first nuclear power plant despite opposition from Western countries.
Putin said Russia would start supplying fuel to Bushehr when a commissioning date is set, and contract obligations are amended.
"Under International Atomic Energy Agency rules, nuclear fuel will be supplied several months before a nuclear reactor is commissioned," he said.
