America's new ally in War on Terror helps Iranian nuclear power plant - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Mephisto2 · 09-08-2004, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Russia denies delays in Irans nuclear plant
Source: Reuters

Russia's top nuclear body denied on Thursday Iran's announcement that its atomic reactor being built by Moscow is facing delays.

Moscow's support for Iran’s first nuclear reactor has been an irritant in Russia-U.S. relations.

Russia has been building the Bushehr plant in southern Iran since the early 1990s despite strong criticism from Washington which claims that Tehran can use it to make a nuclear bomb.

According to the latest start-up schedule seen by Reuters, Bushehr is due to come on line next year and reach full capacity in 2006. But on Sunday, Asadollah Sabouri, Iran's senior nuclear official, said the plant would not start working until October 2006.

"I don't know what that is all about. We have not been officially notified of any delays. In fact, there are no delays," said Nikolai Shingaryov, a spokesman for the Russian Atomic Energy Agency.

"We intend to start it up in 2005. And we will do so." He added.

The U.S. and Israel insist that Iran seeks weapons of mass destruction.

The U.S. also claims that Iran would use the 1,000-megawatt plant as a cover for the transfer of other sensitive nuclear technology. It has called on Russia to ditch the $800 million Bushehr project.

But Iran insists that it has no atomic weapons plans. Moscow also denies any suggestion that Tehran could make a nuclear bomb on the basis of the power station's technology.

Despite U.S. fears, the U.N. nuclear watchdog, Mohammad Al Bardei, said in June it was unconcerned by Russia's construction of the plant.

To cool off U.S. concerns that Iran could extract plutonium, which can be used in nuclear bombs from spent fuel at Bushehr, Russia has pledged to sign a deal with Iran to oblige it to return all fuel to Russia after a decade of use.

Russian Atomic Energy Agency chief Alexander Rumyantsev is expected to sign the document in Iran later this year.

Strange bedfellows on the war on terror, eh?

Saudi Arabia and Russia.

I think it's unusual that on one hand, the US is ignoring Russian hypocracy on Chechnya and nuclear proliferation, and on the other is sabre-rattling with regards to Iran.

Mr Mephisto

Other links - http://www.russiajournal.com/news/cn...shtml?nd=43873
http://www.iran.mid.ru/iran/rian/rian34.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3632702.stm

Would you believe that CNN has no references to the Bushehr later than 2003? WTF?!!

Glory's Sun · 09-08-2004, 04:24 PM

I do find it unusual.. to say the least. It's actually quite unnerving. I can understand Israel's apparent worries on this development. I'll get back to this thread soon..

MageB420666 · 09-08-2004, 04:42 PM

Ummm, as far as I understand it, the nuclear material used in power plants is the wrong kind for nuclear weapons. It's kinda like using candle wax to make an explosive, it doesn't react fast enough. And there is a huge difference between a nuclear reactor and a nuclear bomb.

Mephisto2 · 09-08-2004, 04:42 PM

Apologies for the horrible grammar in the title. I didn't notice until just now.

Mr Mephisto

Mephisto2 · 09-08-2004, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MageB420666

Ummm, as far as I understand it, the nuclear material used in power plants is the wrong kind for nuclear weapons. It's kinda like using candle wax to make an explosive, it doesn't react fast enough. And there is a huge difference between a nuclear reactor and a nuclear bomb.

The point is that the plant could be modified to produce enriched plutonium. That can be used to make a rather nasty little atomic weapon.

Personally, I think Iran should be allowed to have its nuclear powerplant IF it agrees to unfettered inspections, as called for by the NPT.

Mr Mephisto

09-08-2004, 04:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
MageB420666 <Insert wise statement here> Location: Hell if I know	Ummm, as far as I understand it, the nuclear material used in power plants is the wrong kind for nuclear weapons. It's kinda like using candle wax to make an explosive, it doesn't react fast enough. And there is a huge difference between a nuclear reactor and a nuclear bomb. __________________ Apathy: The best outlook this side of I don't give a damn.

09-08-2004, 04:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Glory's Sun Registered User	I do find it unusual.. to say the least. It's actually quite unnerving. I can understand Israel's apparent worries on this development. I'll get back to this thread soon..

09-08-2004, 04:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Apologies for the horrible grammar in the title. I didn't notice until just now. Mr Mephisto