Former President Says Iran Nearing Nuclear Energy Breakthrough; Russia to Complete Reactor Project

Iran is nearing a nuclear breakthrough, former President Hashemi Rafsanjani said Sunday, adding that his country is not pursuing nuclear weapons and that the United States is misleading the world about Iran’s intentions, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, May 14).

 “Americans are frightening the world that Iran is on the verge of a huge nuclear breakthrough,” Rafsanjani was quoted as saying by Iran’s official news agency. “That we are on the verge of a nuclear breakthrough is true. But we are not seeking nuclear weapons,” he added.

Nuclear scientist Rasoul Sediqi Bonabi said Rafsanjani was referring to a breakthrough in nuclear energy.

“Iran is on the verge of producing low-enriched uranium to be used as fuel in nuclear reactors producing electricity,” Bonabi said. “Rafsanjani’s comments mean Iran is on the verge of controlling the whole nuclear fuel cycle from extracting uranium ore to enrich it as nuclear fuel,” he added (Ali Akbar Dareini, Associated Press/Jerusalem Post, May 16).

Meanwhile, Russia has said it is committed to completing a nuclear reactor project in Iran at Bushehr, Reuters reported.

International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards would guarantee that fuel from the project would not be diverted for military uses, said Russian Deputy Atomic Energy Minister Sergei Antipov. He said Russia would supply fuel for the reactor on the condition that spent fuel be returned, although he said the terms of the agreement had not yet been reached.

“Definitely, that is our demand. Otherwise we won't supply it,” Antipov said. “The only question that’s being discussed in this connection is the question of price,” he added.

The IAEA has maintained control over Iran’s nuclear work at every stage, Antipov said.

“Material mustn’t be outside control for a second. It’s an absolutely closed fuel cycle. At no point can fuel be diverted or extracted for nuclear weapons,” he said (Mark Trevelyan, Reuters, May 14).

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