Putin To Press On With Iran Trip

WIESBADEN, Germany —President Putin insisted today that he would travel to Iran despite reports about a possible assassination attempt, saying if he paid attention to all the threats against him "I would never leave home."

Russia's Interfax news agency, citing a source in Russia's intelligence services, said yesterday that suicide terrorists had been trained to carry out the assassination in Iran. The Kremlin said Mr. Putin was informed about the threat.

But the Russia president said his trip was planned long in advance and that he would talk with Iranian leaders about their disputed nuclear program, although he stressed the original purpose of the trip was to discuss issues affecting states bordering on the Caspian Sea.

"Of course I am going to Iran," Mr. Putin said at a news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel following talks with her. "If I always listened to all the various threats and the recommendations of the special services I would never leave home."

Iranian officials have rejected reports about the plot as disinformation spread by adversaries hoping to spoil Russian-Iranian relations.

Mr. Putin underlined the need to solve the nuclear problem "through peaceful measures," adding that it was important to make direct contact with Tehran whenever the chance presented itself.

Russia, which is building Iran's first nuclear plant, has resisted the American push for stronger sanctions against Tehran and strongly warned Washington against using force. But it has urged Iran to comply with international controls on its nuclear activities and dragged its feet on the plant's completion.

Mr. Putin's Tehran trip repeatedly has been postponed, as has the launch of the nuclear plant.