The Times Online: “Russia defies West and goes ahead with nuclear fuel sale to Iran“
RUSSIA is to begin supplying Iran with nuclear fuel early next year despite mounting concern in the West that this could accelerate Tehran’s plans to build a nuclear bomb.
Sergei Shmatko, head of Atomstroyexport, Russia’s state nuclear fuel exporter, has said preparations to send fuel to Iran would start next month and the first shipment was expected to reach the Islamic republic by March.
The announcement has caused anxiety among Western countries trying to convince the Kremlin to end its nuclear co-operation with Tehran.
The concerns were strengthened yesterday when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reported to have told a Kuwaiti envoy that Iran was ready to transfer its nuclear technology to neighbouring countries.
The nuclear fuel is espected to be sent to Bushehr, Iran’s first nuclear power station, which has been built by Russia over the past decade as part of a $1.1 billion contract with Tehran.
Iran says the plant will be used to produce energy and that its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes.
Officially at least, Moscow accepts the claim.
The West fears that Tehran’s real aim is to build a nuclear weapon and is afraid that as a nuclear power Iran would threaten Israel and destabilise the entire region.
Just how contrary to our interests need a nation act before it’s no longer considered an ally?
That’s a question we will likely need to ask soon, if not now.
(Link via Pamela – emphasis TMV)
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