Iran’s Nuclear Energy Program has always been a controversial issue to the international community. The international community is worried that Iran might be using their nuclear energy program to develop nuclear bombs, which is seen as a threat to the Western Hemisphere. “Israel and critics in the U.S. Congress say Iran can’t be trusted to make any fissile material, whether for energy, medicine or bombs” (Bloomberg). I will explore the origins of Iran’s nuclear energy program and why their are negative conceptions of Iran’s nuclear plants.
Iran’s Nuclear Program was first established in 1957 through the US Atoms for Peace program. 18 years later in 1975 the construction of two nuclear power plants near Bushehr began. In 1979, Iran experienced an Islamic revolution which resulted in “further payment [to be] withheld and work was abandoned early in 1979” (World Nuclear Association). The two nuclear plants that were being constructed ended up being destroyed in Iraqi airstrikes that occurred from 1984 to 1988. Although these two nuclear plants were damaged, the “revival of the shah’s nuclear program was initially presented as necessary to diversify energy sources” (United States Institute of Peace). Iran could economically benefit by exporting their resources such as oil and use nuclear plants to generate the electricity needed to power the nation. The concerns of Iran’s purpose for a nuclear plant began to become evident when Iran’s program may have “been a byproduct of the troubled revolution’s omnipresent need for legitimacy and Iranian nationalism’s quest for respect and international status” (United States Institute of Peace). As a result the international community was puzzled by Iran’s main goal with their nuclear plants. It is important to note that Iran works concurrently with Russia in the development of their nuclear plants. The amount of Uranium in Iran is very limited which results in Uranium from Russia to be imported in, in order to run the plants. All used and exhausted Uranium rods are then returned back to Russia. If we fast-forwarding to the present, “The reason why such attention has been focused on Iran is because it hid a clandestine uranium enrichment programme for 18 years, in breach of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)” (BBC News). Iran’s enrichment process of Uranium was under secrecy from the international community, which has caused the rest of the world to be skeptical towards Iran. Consequently, the United Nations Security Council has passed various resolutions, which would limit its uranium enrichment. These resolutions are in place to guarantee that Iran does not enrich uranium to be used for nuclear weapons.
In my opinion, these rules set in place by the UN Security council are definitely necessary. In a country like Iran where their objective is unknown and they have kept certain aspects of their nuclear program in secrecy, it is vital to set some form of regulations to how they can get things done. In addition, I don’t think these resolutions should only be applied to Iran, but they should apply to every nation with nuclear plants. This will insure that no nation is developing nuclear weapons. Nuclear plants should only be used for generating electricity and to not create weapons of mass destruction.
References:
Tyrone, Jonathan. “Iran’s Nuclear Program.” Bloomberg. N.p., 11 Sept. 2015. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.
“Iran Nuclear Crisis: Six Key Points.” BBC News. N.p., 14 July 2015. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.
“The Politics of Iran’s Nuclear Program.” The Iran Primer. United States Institute of Peace, Aug. 2015. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.
“World Nuclear Association.” Nuclear Power in Iran. N.p., 20 Oct. 2015. Web. 06 Nov. 2015.