It increasingly looks like the Bushehr reactor will not begin operations in September 2007, as Russia and Iran announced in September 2006. Indications of a possible delay appeared earlier, but Russia generally insisted that it is determined to see the project through. In reality, however, it seems to be reluctant to go ahead with the project unless Iran settles the issues with its enrichment program. Technically, the reasons for the delay this time are problems with payments and with non-Russian equipment, but it is difficult to say how real these are.