Should the West Worry about Irans Bushehr Nuclear Plant?
Reuters | Oct 26 DOES BUSHEHR POSE ANY PROLIFERATION CONCERNS? Analysts say Bushehr will not bring Iran any closer to developing an atom bomb. Russia’s role in supplying the fuel and operating the plant and inspections by the U.N. nuclear watchdog would prevent any diversion of material for military purposes. Oliver Thraenert, senior fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, said he did not believe the “reactor itself is a tool for Iran to develop nuclear weapons” but that other parts of its activities are. Iran, which enriches uranium in a large underground complex at Natanz, says its nuclear programme is solely meant to yield electricity or isotopes for medicine and agriculture. Washington earlier criticised Moscow for pushing ahead with Bushehr and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said in March its planned start-up was “premature”. But the criticism was not repeated after Russia in August announced it would load the fuel and the U.S. State Departm
