TEHRAN – Iran has begun loading fuel into the core of its first nuclear power plant, its atomic energy chief has said, the last major step to realising its stated goal of becoming a peaceful user of nuclear energy.
Officials said yesterday it showed Iran’s nuclear plans were on track despite sanctions aimed at forcing it to curb uranium enrichment which many countries fear is aimed at developing atomic bombs.
However the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog called on Iran to address concerns about its true intentions, while several European energy companies said they were reducing their dealings with the Islamic republic due to sanctions.
“This day will be remembered . . . because it was the day when fuel was lowered into the core of the reactor,” said Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation.
Amid great media fanfare, fuel rods were transported into the reactor building in August, but they were not inserted into its core. The plant’s start-up was delayed due to what were described as minor technical problems.
The US said yesterday it had no problem with the Bushehr plant but with other sites where weapons work might be under way.
“Our problem is not with their reactor at Bushehr; our problem is with their facilities at places like Natanz and their secret facility at Qom and other places where we believe they are conducting their weapons programme,” said US secretary of state Hillary Clinton.
“I heard some of the news coverage that, you know, ‘oh my goodness, the Iranians are starting their reactor’. That is not the issue,” Mrs Clinton told reporters at a meeting with Austrian foreign minister Michael Spindelegger.
“They are entitled to peaceful civilian nuclear power,” she added. They are not entitled to nuclear weapons.”
Mrs Clinton emphasised that Russia’s work on the Bushehr light-water reactor was separate from the long-running international standoff with Tehran over its nuclear ambitions.
“What they [Iran] are doing is starting a reactor that is – based on everything we know about it and everything that the Russians have informed us about it since they have worked with the Iranians over many years to build this reactor – strictly for peaceful purposes.”
Mr Spindelegger said there were signs Iran was ready to come to the negotiating table.
Mrs Clinton confirmed that Washington also hoped Tehran would resume negotiations with the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China on an offer of incentives in exchange for Iran halting enrichment.
She said she hoped that EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton could soon launch “an in-depth negotiation [with Iran] over their nuclear programme” on behalf of the six powers. – (Reuters)