wildcard
29th August 2010, 07:31 AM
A few grammatical/spelling errors, but this is a good, thought-provoking opinion/commentary:
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2010-08/27/c_13466131.htm
by Du Yuanjiang, He Guanghai
TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Fuel loading to Iran's first nuclear power plant, which started on Aug. 21, is scheduled to finish on Sept. 5, when 163 fuel rods will have been transferred into the core of the reactor after required inspections, and the Bushehr nuclear power plant will become operational soon.
Prior to the fuel loading, many analysts believed the United States would reacted fiercely to the fuel injection into the power plant. However, what totally out of their expectation is that the U.S. responded mildly by saying "we recognize that the Bushehr reactor is designed to provide civilian nuclear power and do not view it as a proliferation risk."
It may seem surprising, but it is actually not if one always bears in mind what the U.S. pursues concerning Iran's nuclear program. Whatever the U.S. does is to help realize its political goal.
Then two reasons may explain the unexpected U.S. response. Firstly, the United States does not have enough excuses to oppose Iran using peaceful nuclear energy, since Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Obviously, what the U.S. has been wanting to realize is for Iran to completely stop uranium enrichment activities, and Russia providing nuclear fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant could serve as a proof that Iran does not need to enrich uranium within its borders for its nuclear power plant, and the nuclear fuel needed for peaceful purposes can be supplied by other countries like Russia.
So the second explanation for the unexpected U.S. reaction must be the U.S. hopes to make use of the fuel loading to the Bushehr power plant as a justification to force the Islamic Republic to give up uranium enrichment activities. That's why the U.S. State Department said the country sees no "proliferation risk" from Iran 's Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant, but emphasized Russia's involvement in the reactor underscores that Iran does not need an indigenous enrichment capability if its intentions are purely peaceful.
The timing Iran chose for fuel loading to Bushehr nuclear power plant may also have some implications. In late July, Iran expressed its willingness to hold nuclear talks with Vienna group that consists of Russia, the U.S., France and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but soon the country announced it would begin fuel loading to the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
Iran expressing readiness to hold talks with Vienna group is possibly aimed at easing tensions over its controversial nuclear program, reducing West countries' opposition to fuel injection into Bushehr nuclear power plant, making the U.S. have less excusements to oppose the launch of Bushehr power plant, and at the same time showing Iran's nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Another reason for Iran to begin fuel loading to its first nuclear power plant at this moment is to show its resistance to the sanctions imposed by the West. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's parliament, said on Aug. 21 that loading fuel into Bushehr nuclear plant by Russians was important due to its timing, since it came after the imposition of (UN) sanction resolution 1929, and the U.S. and EU's succeeding unilateral sanctions.
As a matter of fact, Bushehr nuclear power plant has been getting on the U.S. nerves for many years, because the latter suspects Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons despite Tehran's strongly-worded claims that it is only pursuing civilian energy.
The start of fuel loading into Bushehr nuclear power plant marks a major milestone in Iran's nuclear program, and deep in its heart the U.S. must be worried about Bushehr nuclear power plant's new developments although it did not show its unease publicly due to the lack of excuses.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mehmanparast on Tuesday reiterated Iran is ready for talks with Vienna Group, but rejected the comments made by some Western countries that Iran must halt uranium enrichment after the fuel loading into Bushehr reactor.
It can be expected that in the next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the Vienna group, if it is to be held as anticipated, Bushehr nuclear power plant will be a focus of the discussion.
Regarding the issue of nuclear fuel supply, both sides will have their own arguments during the talks. Iran must say that the Bushehr nuclear power plant and the Islamic Republic's plan to build 20 more nuclear power plants in future justifies the continuation of uranium enrichment activities inside Iran, while the western countries would insist since the nuclear fuel needed for Bushehr nuclear power plant could be provided by other countries, then there's no necessity for Iran to enrich uranium itself.
However, if next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the West does not satisfy its appetite, the U.S. is very likely to take tougher actions to deal with Iran over its nuclear program, and the scenarios could be even worse.
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2010-08/27/c_13466131.htm
by Du Yuanjiang, He Guanghai
TEHRAN, Aug. 27 (Xinhua) -- Fuel loading to Iran's first nuclear power plant, which started on Aug. 21, is scheduled to finish on Sept. 5, when 163 fuel rods will have been transferred into the core of the reactor after required inspections, and the Bushehr nuclear power plant will become operational soon.
Prior to the fuel loading, many analysts believed the United States would reacted fiercely to the fuel injection into the power plant. However, what totally out of their expectation is that the U.S. responded mildly by saying "we recognize that the Bushehr reactor is designed to provide civilian nuclear power and do not view it as a proliferation risk."
It may seem surprising, but it is actually not if one always bears in mind what the U.S. pursues concerning Iran's nuclear program. Whatever the U.S. does is to help realize its political goal.
Then two reasons may explain the unexpected U.S. response. Firstly, the United States does not have enough excuses to oppose Iran using peaceful nuclear energy, since Iran is a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Obviously, what the U.S. has been wanting to realize is for Iran to completely stop uranium enrichment activities, and Russia providing nuclear fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant could serve as a proof that Iran does not need to enrich uranium within its borders for its nuclear power plant, and the nuclear fuel needed for peaceful purposes can be supplied by other countries like Russia.
So the second explanation for the unexpected U.S. reaction must be the U.S. hopes to make use of the fuel loading to the Bushehr power plant as a justification to force the Islamic Republic to give up uranium enrichment activities. That's why the U.S. State Department said the country sees no "proliferation risk" from Iran 's Russian-built Bushehr nuclear power plant, but emphasized Russia's involvement in the reactor underscores that Iran does not need an indigenous enrichment capability if its intentions are purely peaceful.
The timing Iran chose for fuel loading to Bushehr nuclear power plant may also have some implications. In late July, Iran expressed its willingness to hold nuclear talks with Vienna group that consists of Russia, the U.S., France and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but soon the country announced it would begin fuel loading to the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
Iran expressing readiness to hold talks with Vienna group is possibly aimed at easing tensions over its controversial nuclear program, reducing West countries' opposition to fuel injection into Bushehr nuclear power plant, making the U.S. have less excusements to oppose the launch of Bushehr power plant, and at the same time showing Iran's nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.
Another reason for Iran to begin fuel loading to its first nuclear power plant at this moment is to show its resistance to the sanctions imposed by the West. Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's parliament, said on Aug. 21 that loading fuel into Bushehr nuclear plant by Russians was important due to its timing, since it came after the imposition of (UN) sanction resolution 1929, and the U.S. and EU's succeeding unilateral sanctions.
As a matter of fact, Bushehr nuclear power plant has been getting on the U.S. nerves for many years, because the latter suspects Iran of seeking to build nuclear weapons despite Tehran's strongly-worded claims that it is only pursuing civilian energy.
The start of fuel loading into Bushehr nuclear power plant marks a major milestone in Iran's nuclear program, and deep in its heart the U.S. must be worried about Bushehr nuclear power plant's new developments although it did not show its unease publicly due to the lack of excuses.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mehmanparast on Tuesday reiterated Iran is ready for talks with Vienna Group, but rejected the comments made by some Western countries that Iran must halt uranium enrichment after the fuel loading into Bushehr reactor.
It can be expected that in the next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the Vienna group, if it is to be held as anticipated, Bushehr nuclear power plant will be a focus of the discussion.
Regarding the issue of nuclear fuel supply, both sides will have their own arguments during the talks. Iran must say that the Bushehr nuclear power plant and the Islamic Republic's plan to build 20 more nuclear power plants in future justifies the continuation of uranium enrichment activities inside Iran, while the western countries would insist since the nuclear fuel needed for Bushehr nuclear power plant could be provided by other countries, then there's no necessity for Iran to enrich uranium itself.
However, if next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the West does not satisfy its appetite, the U.S. is very likely to take tougher actions to deal with Iran over its nuclear program, and the scenarios could be even worse.