Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Launches a New Phase in the Arak Heavy-Water Reactor Project
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) inaugurates the Arak heavy-water project 190 km (120 miles) southwest of Tehran August 26, 2006. Iran’s president launched a new phase in the Arak heavy-water reactor project on Saturday, despite Western fears it is aimed at producing a bomb.
Reuters: Iran launches new nuclear project
Iran’s president launched a new phase in the Arak heavy-water reactor project on Saturday, saying Tehran would not give up its right to nuclear technology despite Western fears it is aimed at producing a bomb.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was speaking just days ahead of a United Nations deadline for Iran to halt uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.
“No one can deprive a nation of its rights based on its capabilities,” Ahmadinejad said in his speech to inaugurate the project. The plant’s plutonium by-product could be used to make atomic warheads.
Flap previously reported that Iran will announce a “nuclear breakthrough” and I suppose this is one of them prior to the United Nations Security Council deadline on August 31. The UNSCR demanded Iran halt uranium enrichment.
So, what is the significance of this project?
PLUTONIUM
An Iranian official said the project is not a proliferation risk because heavy water had no military use but a Western diplomat said it was not a constructive step.
The ceremony at the heavy water site at Khondab, near Arak, was attended by foreign and Iranian journalists.
The complex was protected by dozens of anti-aircraft guns and surrounded by a four-meter high barbed wire fence. Photographers and TV journalists were asked not to take any images except in areas where they were specifically permitted.
Another target another this reactor has not been completed. Israel loves to bomb unfinished nuclear reactors – remember Saddam’s?
But, Iran President Ahmadinejad says there is nothing to fear.
“Iran is not a threat to anybody, not even to the Zionist regime,” Ahmadinejad said, using Iran’s term for its arch-enemy Israel, which the Islamic Republic does not recognize.
Flap does not think Israel will view this development is quite this way.
An aerial view of a heavy-water production plant, which went into operation despite U.N. demands that Iran roll back its nuclear program, in the central Iranian town of Arak, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad declared Saturday, after the inauguration of the plant, that his nation’s controversial nuclear program poses no threat to any other country, even Israel ‘which is a definite enemy.’
In the meantime, the United States is preparing to further isolate Iran.
Los Angeles Times: U.S. May Curb Iran
If the U.N. Security Council won’t penalize Tehran for its nuclear program, the White House may forge an alliance to do so.
U.S. Ambassador John R. Bolton said in an interview late this week that the United States planned to introduce a resolution imposing penalties such as a travel ban and asset freeze for key Iranian leaders soon after the Aug. 31 deadline, and seemed optimistic that China and Russia would agree to it once they saw the text. “Everybody’s been on board,” he said.
But in case Russia and China do not accept it, the U.S. is working a parallel diplomatic track outside the U.N., Bolton said.
Under U.S. terrorism laws, Washington could ramp up its own sanctions, including financial constraints on Tehran and interception of missile and nuclear materials en route to Iran, Bolton said, and the U.S. is encouraging other countries to follow suit. “You don’t need Security Council authority to impose sanctions, just as we have,” he said.
The Los Angeles Times blathers on about a weak United States position on Iran. Blah Blah….
It only makes sense that the United States develop a parallel diplomatic track because it is not a “WEAK” United States that is failing in the United Nations. Russia and China are feckless in their economic and business deals with Iran. They will NEVER support economic or any meaningful sanctions.
And who is to say that sanctions will work in the first place?
United Nations and P-5-Plus-1 negotiations and diplomatic engagement have been a failure and are WORTHLESS.
The United States has entered a new “IRAN COLD WAR” and will have to go it alone.
Israel is already prepared to go it alone against Iran.
When the “POINT OF NO RETURN” arrives Israel and the United States will have a choice.
No more talks – PREPARE THE MILITARY DETERRENCE AND MISSILE DEFENSE.
Iran near the Arak nuclear research reactor. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted that Iran is no threat to Israel as he inaugurated a heavy water production plant just five days before a UN Security Council deadline to suspend sensitive nuclear fuel cycle work.
Stay tuned…..
Captain Ed has Surprise!
The Germans tried using heavy water for its own atomic-weapons program during World War II, and for a solid technical reason: it eliminates the need for uranium enrichment to fuel reactors, which can then yield weapons-grade fissile material. It seems as though the Iranians want to cover all their bases in creating the fuel for nuclear weapons; they continue to pursue enrichment in parallel.
Ahmadinejad’s construction of the heavy-water plant puts a stake in the heart of the argument that Iran only wants peaceful nuclear energy. Their multiple-tracked efforts to achieve plutonium production shows quite clearly that they have spent more effort than necessary to get simple civil nuclear power production. The incentive package offered by the West would have given it to them in any case.
Yes, it appears Iran is going for a duel track in order to generate nuclear material to make weapons. Flap will link up to future posts when the nuclear scientists start to weigh into the analysis of Iran’s new conduct and strategy.
We need to recognize that few Western nations have the stomach to oppose Ahmadinejad and the mullahcracy. The UN will not act; Russia and China have made that impossible, and in any case, we have seem what the UN does with sanctions regimes. We need to gather as many nations together who understand the nature of Iran and the threat a nuclear-armed mullahcracy presents, and act to stop it. That doesn’t necessarily mean war, but it does mean putting massive resources into whatever means we have to undermine the mullahcracy from within. Otherwise, if we continue to dither, war will be the only choice left open to us, and at some point, Iran will take that choice away from us as well.
Sanctions are meaningless.
The United States and Israel are alone in opposing Iran’s nuclear intentions.
Previous:
Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Rejects United Nations Sanctions Against Iran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Israel Sending a “CLEAR†Message to Iran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Germany – Iran’s Response to P-5-Plus-1 Proposal is Unsatisfactory
Iran Nuclear Watch: P-5-Plus-1 – Will Likely Reject Tehran’s Terms for Talks
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran to Announce Nuclear “Breakthroughâ€
Iran Nuclear Watch: Showdown at United Nations Next Week?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Carrot and Stick?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Responds to the P-5-Plus-1
Michael Ramirez on Nuclear Iran and the United Nations
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Blocks United Nations Nuclear Inspections
Iran Nuclear Watch: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Iran Will Continue Nuclear Program
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Says It Will NOT Halt Uranium Enrichment
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Military Exercises to Test Asymmetrical Warfare Combat Doctrine
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Information Blackout – Police Destroying Satellite Dishes in Tehran
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Ready to Discuss Suspension of Uranium Enrichment?
Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Cleric Ahmad Khatami Warns Israel of Missile Attack
The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.
Technorati Tags: Iran, Ahmadinejad
One Comment
Maria making pictures
What a bad news. I think Iran could have used the solar rays to generate energy.
They must be very serious about their energy problems, because they ignore the possible threat of nuclear polution.
Thank you for sharing this story with me !