Russia and China, both commercial partners of Iran, are continuing to resist punitive measures that Washington wants to inflict, for example on Iranian state banks, in relation to suspicions regarding Iran’s potential nuclear programme. Russia has just delivered the fifth batch of nuclear fuel to Iran’s Bushehr plant, with three more to go until the consignment is complete. Gas export monopoly Gazprom said its reserves replacement had exceeded production for the third consecutive year in 2007 as it had discovered 585 billion cubic metres of new reserves. Russia’s United Company RUSAL, which is buying a strategic stake in metals major Norilsk Nickel, is discussing a full buyout or a merger.