Russian construction of a
light-water power
reactor for Iran's nuclear power station at Bushehr, pursuant to an
agreement signed in January 1995, has raised significant proliferation
concerns despite pledges from both countries that the reactor will be placed
under IAEA safeguards.[1] Although the United States raised these concerns
through the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission and other bilateral channels,
Russia remains determined to fulfill its obligations under the $800 million
deal, and the Bushehr reactor is scheduled for completion in 2003.
In 1998 Iran asked Russia to bid on the construction of three additional power
reactors, the cost of which could total up to $3 billion.[6] Since the 1998 request,
however, no additional reactor construction contracts have been
signed, although in November 2000 the Ministry of Atomic Energy announced that
it anticipated receiving a contract for the construction of a second reactor at Bushehr.[8] However, other reports have indicated
that a contract for the second
unit at Bushehr would not be awarded until the first was completed.[9] In March
2001 Iranian President Khatami mentioned the possibility of the construction of
a second NPP, with two reactors, in addition to Bushehr.[9] Despite Rumyantsev's
July 2002 announcement that Russian nuclear assistance to Iran would end after
the Bushehr NPP was completed,[12] during the same month the Ministry of Atomic
Energy unveiled a 10-year assistance plan which mentioned the construction of five
additional reactors, three at Bushehr and two at the Ahwaz NPP. According to
the Ministry of Atomic Energy, it would bid for contracts for the additional
reactors after the completion of the first Bushehr NPP unit.[13] However,
Minatom representatives also stated that Iran had not requested the construction
of additional reactors,[14] and later the ministry said that the 10-year plan
only outlined possible courses of action.[15]
Negotiations
over the sale of a heavy-water research reactor were reported in December
1998, and blueprints for these facilities were reportedly provided to Iran.[7]
Plans to construct a
gas centrifuge facility
in Iran, however, have been cancelled, and the status of a light-water
research reactor and a nuclear-powered desalination plant remains
uncertain.
In August 1995, Russia entered into a 10-year contract to supply
nuclear
fuel for the Bushehr plant.[2] Although the January 1995 agreement
originally provided for the delivery of 2,000 MT of natural uranium, this
aspect of the agreement may also have been cancelled.[3] Some reports,
which Moscow has consistently denied, indicate that Russia has also provided
assistance in uranium mining and milling technology
to Iran, possibly through clandestine channels without official approval.[4]
Russia is currently
training Iranian physicists
and engineers at a leading center for nuclear research in Moscow and
a nuclear power station at Novovoronezh.[5]
In February 2002
The Sunday Times reported that Iranian nuclear scientists visited the
Scientific
Research Design Institute of Energy Technologies (NIKIET)
in Moscow,[10] and in May 2002 Minister of Atomic Energy Rumyantsev announced
that Russia would train 100 Iranian specialists to operate the Bushehr NPP,
which will be operated for the first six years by a mixed Russian-Iranian
crew.[11] Sources:
[1] "Iran, Russia Agree on $800 Million Nuclear Plant
Deal," Washington Post, 9 January 1995.
[2] "Russian Contract Extended to Fuel," Nuclear News,
no. 38, October 1995, p. 47.
[3] David Albright et al., Plutonium and Highly Enriched
Uranium 1996: World Inventories, Capabilities, and Politices (Oxford:
Oxford University Press, 1996), p. 353.
[4] R. Jeffrey Smith, "Administration Concerned About
Russia's Nuclear Cooperation With Iran," Washington Post, 3 July
1997, p. A7.
[5] ITAR-TASS, 21 March 1996; in “Specialists to Train
Iranians for Bushehr Nuclear Plant,” FBIS-SOV-96-057.
[6] Andrew Jack and Stephen Fidler,
"Iranian Nuclear Reactors: US Reinforces Opposition to Deal," Financial
Times, 26 November 1998, p. 2.
[7] Carla Anne Robbins and Andrew
Higgins, "Fission for Cash: Money Hungry Russia Finds a Foreign Market
for Nuclear Knowledge," Wall Street Journal, 15 December 1998, p.
1.
[8] "Rossiya postroit vtoroy blok
Busherskoy AES v Irane, soobshchili v Minatome," Interfax, 30 November
2000.
[9] "Prezident Irana vyskazalsya za uskoreniye stroitelstva AES v
Bushere," Interfax, 15 March 2001.
[10] Sarah Baxter & Mark Franchetti,
"Russia, Iran run N-school exchange," The Sunday Times, 6 February
2002, pg. 9; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://web.lexis-nexis.com.
[11] Interfax, 28 May 2002; in "Russia to train around 100 Iranian engineers to
operate Bushehr-1 nuclear plant," FBIS Document CEP20020528000137.
[12] Dmitriy
Zaks, "Russia-Iran nuclear cooperation to end with Bushehr: minister," Agence
France Presse, 21 July 2002; in Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://www.lexis-nexis.com.
[13] Angela Charlton, "Russia Expands Nuke Ties With Iran,"
Associated Press, 26 July 2002.
[14] "Iran hasn't officially offered Russia to build NPP at Ahwaz -
Atomstroiexport," Interfax, 29 July 2002.
[15] "Alexander Yakovenko, The Official Spokesman of Russia's Ministry Of
Foreign Affairs, Answers A Question From CNN Regarding The Prospects Of
Cooperation By The Russian Federation With Iran In The Field Of Peaceful Uses
Of The Atom," Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2002; in RANSAC
Nuclear News, 2 August 2002. {Revised 12/9/98 FW} {Updated 9/4/2002 MJ}
Overview
