The Bushehr Power Plant and the Iranian Nuclear File

After decades of delays, finally last Saturday fuel rods were introduced into the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the first of its kind in the Islamic Republic. This is the beginning of the process which is going to last a few weeks and hopefully in the next two months the electricity generated from the plant will be connected to the country’s electricity network, the first time in Iran’s history. 

This is a big achievement for Iran, thanks to the efforts of different Iranian government officials and scientists during the last thirty years who despite numerous pressure and threats did not give up and persevered until they reached their goal which has been to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We should not forget the fact that during the last thirty years, Western countries did their utmost to prevent Iran from exercising its right based on the Non-Proliferation Treaty on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. We cannot fail to notice how different US Administrations have, till a few years ago, even verbally opposed to the completion of the Bushehr power plant. They put a lot of pressure on Russia not to honor its commitments to finish the nuclear power plant, hence the reason for this long delay. 

While the Western countries have not reacted negatively to the opening of the nuclear plant, Israeli officials and some quarters within the Arab world have raised concern about the fueling of the Bushehr power plant despite the fact that Israel is in a possession of at least 200 nuclear warheads endangering the whole Middle East region and some Arab countries are seriously seeking to establish nuclear power plants on their soil. 

With the inauguration of the Bushehr plant, Iran will join the countries capable of using nuclear technology for generating electricity. It is not wise for the United States or its friends and allies to disregard this fact. Iran is a huge country with rich resources, talented young generation and lots of potentials. It is in the interest of all to take the opportunity and work towards solving the misunderstandings between the two sides. Recently, New York Times reported that the US officials have convinced Israel that Iran needs at least a year to develop a nuclear weapon while Iran has repeatedly rejected the notion of seeking nuclear weapons and has warned Israel that it will harshly retaliate against any American or Israeli adventurism. 

There is no military solution to the Iranian nuclear file. Miscalculation on the part of anybody to initiate a conflict will entail dire consequences for the region and beyond. All sides should take the opportunity provided by the next round of talks between Iran and 5+1 countries in September. The talks should begin without any condition and the interlocutors should be prepared to discuss all issues of concern. Furthermore, flexibility on the part of both sides and refraining from the language of threats and intimidation are needed to move forward and create the necessary conditions for solving this question. This opportunity should not be lost.