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Don't Rely on Iran's Good Intentions

(Cipher Brief) Olli Heinonen - Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated his country's intent to build up to eight nuclear reactors in Iran. The nuclear agreement and the UN Security Council resolution endorsing it establish a dedicated "procurement channel" for the transfer of materials, equipment, and technology required for Iran's nuclear activities. However, prior approval by the Security Council is not necessary if Tehran wants to purchase specified nuclear equipment for light-water reactors, low-enriched uranium fuel elements for the reactor, or dual-use items if they are used exclusively in light-water reactors. Therefore, any contracts between Iran and foreign countries for the provision of nuclear goods should require that the technology provider be able to intervene if Tehran uses the nuclear material for reprocessing to separate plutonium, which is nuclear material suitable for nuclear weapons. Last month, Mohammad-Javad Larijani, a foreign affairs adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called for building a "massive institute for nuclear research" and said that Iran must convince the world that it can build a bomb within 48 hours. This is not the language of a country that wants to build nuclear reactors simply to generate electricity. The writer, senior advisor on science and nonproliferation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, is the former deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and head of its Department of Safeguards.
2016-09-20 00:00:00
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