Aurel Braun questions Russia's refuelling of Iranian reactor in the Globe and Mail

August 20, 2010

An old issue – Russia’s construction of a nuclear reactor in the Iranian city of Bushehr – seemingly indolent for so many years, suddenly turned virulent this month when the Russians announced they would begin fuelling the mammoth reactor. It’s a decision likely to prove dangerous both in terms of substance and symbolism.

For many years, Moscow had found creative reasons to continually delay completing and fuelling the reactor, either because of Western pressure or because of its desire to maintain leverage over Tehran. Both the United States and the European Union, which pushed through tougher sanctions against Iran in June under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1929, hoped Russia would again delay fuelling the reactor. The strong opposition to Bushehr is part of a broader effort by Western democracies to prevent the fanatical Islamist regime from acquiring nuclear weapons. The decision by Moscow to have the state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom move tonnes of enriched uranium fuel into the reactor this Saturday sets into motion a veritable political chain reaction.

In terms of substantive dangers, it may be argued that Bushehr is only tangentially related to Iran’s purported nuclear weapons program. The Russians also will contend they have an agreement with Iran to return the spent fuel to Russia. This is crucial – once fuel is irradiated, it will begin to produce plutonium that can be used in atomic weapons.

The problem is – given the poor record of Russian control over nuclear materials, vast systemic and corrosive Russian corruption and Iranian determination – it’s difficult to ensure with a high degree of confidence that Tehran won’t gain access to fissile materials. Even if this could be assured, however, the additional nuclear know-how that Iran is bound to gain from operating the advanced reactor is likely to serve a dual purpose and thereby boost prospects for Tehran’s nuclear weapons program.

More important than the direct long-term dangers from Bushehr is the destructive symbolism and its effects. Just when new sanctions against Iran are beginning to have some teeth, Tehran has won a huge PR victory with grave practical implications. The Russian move sets the stage for additional sanctions violations or avoidance by the Kremlin, and gives greater licence to China and others to provide Iran with goods, technology and income that can enable the extremist Islamist regime to speed toward becoming a nuclear power. Further, it sends a message to Western allies that the Russian “reset button,” which Barack Obama’s administration offered in order to ease tensions, entails restraints on the West only.

Still, given Western concerns – largely expressed through quiet diplomacy so far – why did Russia move ahead now?

Continue reading Aurel Braun’s article online at globeandmail.com.