Some Facts about Iran’s
Nuclear Energy Program
Iran’s nuclear energy program began in 1974 during the Shah’s
regime under the auspices of the US government.
At that time, the US government was acting in accordance with Article IV
of the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which commits the Parties
to the Treaty to “…undertake to facilitate . . . the fullest possible exchange
of equipment, materials and scientific and technological information for the
peaceful uses of nuclear energy . . . and to [contribute] to the further
development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially
in the territories of non-nuclear-weapon States Party to the Treaty, with
due consideration for the needs of the developing world.”
In the 1990’s, when the Iranian government decided
to complete this project, since there was no longer an economic relationship
between Iran and the US, Iran turned to Russia to complete it. Their agreement also honors the treaty.
The agreement between Russia and Iran for the construction of the facility at the port of Bushehr requires that Iran returns the spent fuel to Russia. Russia processes the spent fuel (extracting any component
that could be used for nuclear bombs) and returns the waste for disposal in Iran.
Iran remains a member in good standing of the NPT and in
compliance with the regulations of the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA). However, the US government, in violation of Article IV of the NPT,
is pressuring Russia to stop cooperating in Iran’s nuclear energy plan. Under US instigation, Iran has been pressured to sign on to a higher protocol
of the NPT, a protocol that only a dozen or so countries have signed. President Khatami of Iran responded, “We demand recognition of Iran's peaceful nuclear knowledge and a guarantee for
such right by the world”. As of July 1,
the Russian Foreign Minister has “confirmed Russia’s pledge to honor its obligations” in Bushehr.