Bush, Russia and Iran
Source: Jane's Security (http://janes.com)
Dated: :2002-08-07
During his recent visit to Moscow the US energy secretary, Spencer Abraham, reprimanded Russia for its continued co-operation with Iran, and in particular its sale of nuclear technology. The US has been trying for over a year to put an end to this relationship, arguing that it will speed up Iran's acquisition of nuclear weapons.
However, experts in Washington have never offered proof that Iran has a nuclear weapons programme. Iran has long been a signatory of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and the nuclear power plant Russia is building in Iran at Bushehr is under full International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards. The agency's inspectors have never expressed any concern about the project. Iran's record in this regard looks perfectly acceptable, except to Israel and the US.
For Moscow the nuclear connection with Iran is vital. Russia needs to export its technology to support its domestic nuclear industry and has been successful in doing so in recent years.
Moreover, Russia more than any other country has an interest in seeing that its Iranian neighbour does not acquire nuclear weapons. The plants being built are no use for this purpose. And to be doubly sure, Russia has arranged to supply the fuel for the plants and then to take back the spent fuel after it is used. This means Iran will have no need to build facilities to enrich uranium or reprocess used fuel – the only routes to acquiring weapons grade nuclear material.
Furthermore, if Iran has decided to develop a nuclear energy option, the best insurance against this also being used for nuclear weapons is to have Russia in control of it. If the Americans were to succeed in breaking this relationship, it would have the effect of pushing Iran to go it alone, like India and Pakistan.
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