Russian President Vladimir Putin is hosting the meeting with French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, which is celebrating its 750th anniversary this year.

"A discussion on the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, particularly as far as the Iranian nuclear programme is concerned, is expected in Kaliningrad," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Despite US objections, Russia is building a reactor in Iran's first nuclear power plant at Bushehr for 800 million dollars (615 million euros). The reactor is due to be switched on in 2006, the head of Russia's federal atomic energy agency Alexander Rumyantsev said last week.

Russia has emphasised that Iran should have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful means but also that there shoulod be international controls on Iran's nuclear programme.

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