Iranian Nuclear Plant Falls Prey To Collection Agency
The Russians have decided to delay their assistance to the Iranians on the construction and operation of the Bushehr reactor that has the West infuriated with both nations. Moscow has not come to its senses about giving radical Islamists the nuclear cycle, however. They're just refusing to work until the Iranians catch up on their bills:
Russian officials have warned work on an Iranian nuclear plant may be delayed because Iran is late with payments. ...Under the Bushehr deal, Russia would have started fuel shipments by March, launched the plant in September and begun to generate electricity by November.
Russia's Federal Nuclear Power Agency spokesman Sergey Novikov said the "launch schedule definitely could be affected" by the delay in payments.
One unnamed Russian official told Associated Press Iran was blaming "technical reasons" for the delay. Iran has not commented officially.
Officially, the West dropped its objections to the Bushehr deal when Russia agreed to the sanctions regime regarding uranium enrichment in Iran. However, the US and its allies have found the deal problematic and potentially dangerous. Russia demanded that Iran return the spent fuel to ensure that it could not be used in developing nuclear weapons, but the West disputes whether any effective verification of Iran's performance to that clause exists.
The delay in payment for the reactor and Russian services seems puzzling. The Iranians produce plenty of oil, although at decreasing levels as their facilities age. Given the high profile of the Bushehr plant, one would expect Teheran to ensure that it stays on schedule. This would seem to indicate significant economic problems for the Islamic state, perhaps significant enough for them to try another round of Let's Make A Deal.
At any rate, we have finally discovered what it takes for the Russians to seriously consider security: a late payoff. Maybe we can arrange more of those.
Posted by Ed Morrissey on February 19, 2007 6:44 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (4)
