Iran’s First Nuclear Plant Set to Launch, US Backs Out of Nuclear Deal
Preparations for the launch of Iran’s first nuclear plant, Bushehr, are in the final stage. According to the AFP, a Russian official said the launch will be irreversible by next February.
The plant, which will be run by Russia, is suspect. Western countries, including the U.S., believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons, and that the plant is a civilian cloak to hide those developments. Naturally, Iran denies it.
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France believes Iran is developing weapons, but a foreign minister spokesman told the AFP, “Nuclear weapons are not part of Iran’s defence doctrine.”
While Russia has expressed disapproval of America’s plan to install missile defense bases in Poland and the Czech Republic, the country supposedly is “as worried as any Western country” about Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. How credible is this sentiment? In our opinion, it’s not credible at all.
In other news, the U.S. has pulled out of a civilian nuclear agreement with Russia. The agreement, signed in May, theoretically could have helped both countries increase nuclear trade and stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons. An excerpt from the White House press release:
“In view of recent actions by the Government of the Russian Federation incompatible with peaceful relations with its sovereign and democratic neighbor Georgia, I have determined that the determination regarding the proposed Agreement in Presidential Determination 2008-19 is no longer effective.”
Reuters reports that the withdrawal was “widely seen” as punitive action against Russia for invading Georgia, but the statement makes clear it definitely was. At some point in the future, things may change.
(Source: AFP and Reuters - Photo source: IranAtom.ru)
Tags: Bushehr, Georgia, Iran, Nicolas Sarkozy, nuclear plant, Russia