Bushehr shipment released by Azerbaijani customs

[Associated Press, BBC, 1 May] After over a month, Azerbaijan has allowed a shipment of Russian equipment for the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran to continue. The cargo of heat-isolating equipment was stopped at the Astara customs checkpoint on 29 March and was held there whilst Azerbaijan requested more information about the nature of the goods. Azerbaijani authorities said they were concerned that equipment could violate United Nations sanctions. Khazar Ibragim, a spokesman for Azerbaijan's foreign ministry, told AFP, "We received the information from Russia, studied it and then we decided to let it go." AtomStroyExport (ASE), the Russian stated-owned company supplying Iran with the reactor, has accused Azerbaijan of deliberately obstructing the shipment.