Iran’s nuclear agency says that they are in talks with Russia about expansions to the Bushehr Power Plant. Iran wants two new electricity generation units at the plant.
Russia built the Bushehr nuclear plant in 2013, and it generates 1,000 MW of power. Iran says their goal is to scale up to 10,000 MW, though its not clear how much is being sought just now.
Bushehr is Iran’s lone nuclear plant, operating on low-enriched uranium. Iran is keen to add to its nuclear power resources, so as to leave more oil for export.
Though the US tends to complain about Iran’s civilian nuclear program, this is perfectly legal under international law, and poses no proliferation risk whatsoever.
Interesting that these talks come now, when reports of Russia agreeing to sell Russian jets and most importantly S-400 air defense systems to Iran are circulating. These are examples of options that Russia can take to ratchet the pressure up on the US to start playing nice with Russia.
“Though the US tends to complain about Iran’s civilian nuclear program, this is perfectly legal under international law, and poses no proliferation risk whatsoever.”
International law takes a backseat to Israel’s demands.
Where does peaceful uses for atomic energy end, and warlike uses begin? Who knows what a country does in secret ?
Yeh, ask Israel that question…!
exactly
I’d enjoy an answer to that question…
Actually, having nuclear power has always been synonymous with having the potential to have nuclear weapons.
One nice-guy step is to renounce possession and sign the non-proliferation treaty, but that’s just a formality.
The material and political costs of having nukes usually dissuades nuclear powered nations from going there.
That’s what the IAEA is for. That is what spook assessments are for. Of course no one knows completely what goes on in other countries, but Iran signed a deal that is more intrusive, inspections wise, than any other deal of its kind. The NPT on steroids. But it not surprising that an Israeli firster like yourself would say that, given Israel’s refusal to open its nuke program to any type of inspections let alone a deal like the JCPOA.
Coming from an Iran Firster.
Hardly. I look at both countries as equals. Both oppressive shitholes.
Why on earth not? Iran has not bombed , invaded,sanctioned ,threatened countries it disagreed with, which the USA does all the time.
I’m fully in favor of it. Interesting that Bushehr is LEU-powered, which eliminates proliferation risks. Even the US is having some problems making the transition, particularly in medical isotope production, but they are making some progress.
There is no proliferation-proof nuclear technology.
Please explain how LEU fuel can lead to proliferation. It would, by definition, have to be enriched. Just to let you know, I am that kind of scientist.
Make a dirty bomb, or use the Low Enriched U to make tritium gas and source HEU/plutonium from elsewhere, try and pretend LEU 233 is legit LEU.
It was once claimed LWRs couldn’t easily make plutonium but NK obviously found a way to make enough.
Claiming LEU can’t ever be weaponized… hmmm. You may have the knowledge; someone somewhere may have the creativity to challenge that.
Iran even possessing advanced nuclear knowledge would set Israel off, though.
Its not all about Iran getting the bomb so much as Iran becoming a technological peer and competitor to Israel in meaningful techs like energy.
True, anything can be diverted, but that’s not what is normally meant by the term “nuclear proliferation”. That would be using the material more or less as is, like Israel did, or something that should have been apparent, like plutonium extracted from HWRs, which is how India got the bomb, IIRC. Also, one doesn’t need uranium or other transuranics to make a dirty bomb.
But your points about the proliferation of technology and know-how are spot on.
Tritium isn’t listed under proliferation regs as a nuclear material, but its the hydrogen of the hydrogen bomb and catalyst for the neutron cascade of neutron bombs.
Tritium tech is probably behind US dial-a-yeild warheads.
Peace activists have been trying for years to get a tritium cut-off treaty (TCOT) on the table.
With a half-life of 12.3 years, a TCOT would see immediate reductions in the potency of nuclear arsenals as their tritium timed out.
With nuclear nations unwilling to decrease numbers of warheads, curbing their potency is another angle of approach.
However, smaller nuclear powers might not sign on to that, as tritium gives their smaller arsenals more punch.
… Aaaaand the Russian pushback begins.
They can take this fight beyond the Ukraine.