Russia Stalls Iranian Nuclear Reactor Startup

Russia has decided to delay the first shipment of uranium fuel to the nuclear reactor it is completing in Iran, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, March 9).

The decision follows a dispute that Russian officials say is about Iran’s failure to meet contractual payments, while Iranian officials have accused Russia of caving to U.S. pressure to halt the deal for the Bushehr reactor.

“It will be impossible to launch the reactor in September, and there can be no talk about supplying fuel this month,” says a statement from Russia’s nuclear exporting firm.

Talks in Russia last week failed to bridge the differences between the two nations, AP reported (Vladimir Isachenkov, Associated Press I/Houston Chronicle, March 12).

The Russian-built reactor project has frustrated U.S. officials who have argued the deal undermines international efforts to find a long-term solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis.

“The Americans and Russians will never admit to this, but [Russian President Vladimir] Putin does not want a crisis with the United States,” said a Western defense source.  “The Russians are using the economic issues to cause problems” (United Press International, March 11).

Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad intends to address the U.N. Security Council to explain his country’s nuclear ambitions, an Iranian spokesman said yesterday.

“The president of Iran plans to speak in a possible meeting of the Security Council on Iran’s nuclear program to defend the right of the nation to use peaceful nuclear technology,” said Gholamhossein Elham (Nazila Fathi, New York Times, March 12).

Iran had not yet formally requested the appearance, said council president Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo of South Africa, but he expected the council would hear him.

“I would be very surprised if they said they don’t want to hear him,” Kumalo said.

Diplomats from the five permanent council members and Germany met again yesterday to discuss a possible new resolution that would strengthen economic sanctions imposed against Iran in December, AP reported.

The 90-minute meeting at the British mission in New York bore little fruit, some of the diplomats said.

The session was “a difficult one,” said acting U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff.  “We had a session today that showed that there were still some firm views on all sides. ... I am hopeful still that we can overcome these remaining differences.”

China and Russia have opposed Western efforts for much more strenuous sanctions following Iran’s refusal to freeze its nuclear activities as the December resolution demanded.

China, in particular, has resisted a proposal to limit loan guarantees for businesses with Iranian dealings, AP reported.  Beijing has, however, expressed more openness for a proposal to ban Iran from selling arms to other nations.

In any case, China looked forward to hearing what Ahmadinejad had to say to the council.

“It will be fun if he comes — especially in connection with the adoption of this resolution!” said Chinese Ambassador Wang Guangya (Edith Lederer, Associated Press II/Yahoo!News, March 12).

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