Iran has begun loading fuel into the core of its first nuclear power plant on Tuesday, one of the last steps to realising its stated goal of becoming a peaceful nuclear power, state-run Press TV reported on Tuesday.
A government spokesperson said the fuelling showed Iran’s nuclear programme was on track despite international sanctions aimed at forcing it to curb uranium enrichment activities which many countries fear are aimed at developing atomic weapons.
“Iran has started injecting fuel into the core of the Bushehr nuclear power plant in the southern port city of Bushehr,” the English-language Press TV said on its website.
Amid great media fanfare, fuel rods were transported into the reactor building in August, but they were not inserted into its core and the plant’s start-up was delayed due to what were described as minor technical problems.
Iran expects the Russian-built 1 000-MW plant finally to begin generating energy by early next year. Officials have denied speculation that the global spread of the “Stuxnet” computer virus caused the delay, although it did infect some computers at Bushehr.
“Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities are going on as scheduled,” Foreign Minister spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters at his weekly news conference.
Oliver Thraenert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs said Iran’s progress with Bushehr was meant to “show their own population that they are able to resist international sanctions and in that regard it is important …”
United States and Europe have been prodding Tehran to return to talks on its disputed nuclear ambitions stalled for a year.
‘Sanctions will not impede progress’
Scepticism about Iran’s real aims led to a new round of sanctions from the UN Security Council in June and tighter measures from Washington and the European Union.
Iran insists it needs to enrich uranium — material which can also be used to make weapons if refined to a high degree — to fuel future power stations and a medical research reactor.
“Political pressures like sanctions … will not impede our progress and will not keep our nation from exercising its inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology,” Mehmanparast said.
Iran’s enrichment plant at Natanz is wholly separate from the Bushehr power station.
Experts say that firing up the $1-billion Bushehr plant will not take Iran any closer to building a nuclear bomb since Russia will supply the enriched uranium for the reactor and take away spent fuel that could be used to make weapons-grade plutonium.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the “P5+1” powers — UN Security Council permanent members Russia, the United States, China, France and Britain, plus Germany — has invited Iran for talks in Vienna from November 15 to 17.
Iran has welcomed the offer of talks — which the powers want to yield a deal curbing Iran’s enrichment drive and opening it up to UN nuclear inspectors in exchange for a package of benefits — but has not yet formally replied to the invitation.
“We are following up the issue,” Mehmanparast said. “We should reach consensus on the venue and timing as well as the content of the talks.”
Tehran is showing no sign of backing down in the dispute, pressing ahead with enrichment activity despite the sanctions. – Reuters