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| Iran | |
| Russia: U.S. Should Help Build Iranian Nuke Plant | |
| 2003-05-30 | |
| Was it Lenin who said we'd sell them the rope they'd hang us with? MOSCOW - Russia suggested on Friday that the United States join it in building a nuclear power plant in Iran, calling it a way to ease Washington's concern that Tehran would use the Russian reactor to develop atomic weapons. See, cuz then they could use the U.S. reactor to build nukes. Simplisme! As President Vladimir Putin prepared to host President Bush, Moscow's atomic energy minister floated the seemingly improbable idea in an interview with Itar-Tass news agency. U.S. officials say Russian cooperation with Iran, part of Bush's "axis of evil," is on the agenda for Sunday's talks. Been sampling Yeltsin's beverage supply? Another agency quoted an official in the ministry as saying a multinational effort in building Iran's first atomic power station at Bushehr could ensure that Tehran's Islamic rulers stick to treaty commitments not to develop nuclear weapons. "We have asked our American colleagues this question a few times while having top-level discussions. But so far they have only said they need to think about it," Atomic Energy Minister Alexander Rumyantsev told Tass. Noting that Russia was building only one reactor out of a possible six at Bushehr, on Iran's Gulf coast, he said there was plenty of room for U.S. involvement. Moscow is keen for trade profits from its long experience with nuclear power technology. There was no immediate reaction from U.S. officials. Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi, asked about the Russian proposal to bring in Americans, told a news conference: "Russians or Westerners who want to be involved can come." Washington, which questions the insistence of oil- and gas-rich Iran that it needs nuclear energy, has stepped up its criticism of Tehran since U.S. forces took over neighboring Iraq in an invasion strongly criticized by Moscow. The United States wants the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to declare Iran in violation of the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which Tehran has signed. Russia has also expressed concern about Iran's nuclear program. But Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said this week that no one could object to Moscow's involvement at Bushehr. Another Russian official said that only the United Nations could decide if Washington was right in saying the civilian program was a front for developing nuclear weapons. What if we say we don't give a sh$t what the UN says? Interfax news agency quoted a source at the atomic energy ministry saying other countries' involvement would help ensure Iran adhered to its NPT obligations: "This would increase control over the nuclear programs," the source said. Rumyantsev was adamant that Russian help to Iran was above board and noted IAEA experts regularly check Iran's activities: "Why do we have to stop building power stations if we stick to the rules and violate nothing?" he said.
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| Posted by:Frank G |
| #4 "Moscow is keen for trade profits from its long experience with nuclear power technology" Does Chernobyal ring a bell. |
| Posted by: Raptor 2003-05-31 07:31:24 |
| #3 Anybody got the plans for the old French "Pheonix" FBR's? I think the liquid sodium working fluid would look real nice all over an Iranian reactor floor... |
| Posted by: mojo 2003-05-30 16:21:45 |
| #2 One possible way this might not be too bad of an idea. Build all of the proposed experimental type reactors that we know the Greens will never let be built here. The Pebble Bed type for instance. But we run and control the facility |
| Posted by: Someone who did NOT vote for William Proxmire 2003-05-30 15:57:01 |
| #1 Maybe we should help out and contaminate the whole bloody core with cadmium so it won't work. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2003-05-30 15:22:48 |