Russia to Complete Iranian Nuclear Plant
Amid rising international tensions over Iran’s continued nuclear programs, Russia has stated that it will have Iran’s first nuclear plant completed by 2009. The plant, named Bushehr, is being built in Southwest Iran along the Gulf coast. Russia has already given Iran nuclear fuel under a $1 billion contract to complete the project, which has been repeatedly delayed for financing reasons. The concept of Iran first building a nuclear plant came in the 1970′s with the German firm Siemens, but construction was halted first as a result of the 1979 revolution and then again as a result of the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran War. Russia assisting in the creation of this plant is an interesting political move considering the nearly unanimous opposition to Iran’s nuclear ambitions by the West. Russian relations with the United States had improved after the end of the Cold War, but have since cooled since Putin’s rise to power and subsequent administration of the country. Russia’s completion of the Iranian plant may further strain relations with the West and serve to further divide the international community.
Steven Craig
