ST. PETERSBURG, June 6 -- Vladimir Putin stood before the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday and said something that no foreign ministry had put on the record: Israel, in discussions with Moscow, has signaled its readiness to ensure the safety of Iran's Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. He said Russia intends to keep building there.

"We have discussed this with the Israelis many times, and we see their concern and their willingness to ensure the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant," Putin told the plenary session on Friday. He added that Moscow plans to continue working with Tehran on the construction of nuclear facilities in Iran.

The statement came one day after Russia and Iran signed a sweep...