Bushehr project in US efforts to create sanctions on Iran
Iran-USA, Politics, 10/31/2006

The US Department Of State Sean McCormack was asked yesterday about Iran, and a draft resolution, that the Bushehr issue could be handled discreetly from the other dual-use issues that are being worked on. What is it about the Bushehr project or its provenance that gives you confidence that it can be handled in a way -- when you're dealing with a resolution that focuses on dual use technologies where this could be allowed to proceed?

McCormack answered that " we haven't gotten to that point. Our belief is that it shouldn't pose an obstacle to passage of the kind of resolution that we, as well as others, think needs to be passed in this regard. There are a lot of different characteristics of this particular project that could possibly make it so that we could deal with it in the resolution. The first of which is that the Russian Government has, over a period of time, in response to its own concerns as well as the concerns of the international community, and this is over the course of many, many years. This project's been going on for quite some time -- redesign this deal, this arrangement with the Iranian Government so that there are some kinds of objective safeguards for the deal which would allow for the fuel -- well, first of all, the construction to take place. Second of all, the fuel to be delivered, monitored and then returned once it had already been used. So there's -- we believe, and again if we do in fact get to this point, passage of a resolution which addresses this issue, that you could construct a deal in the UN Security Council resolution that would take all these things into account. Essentially what you would be talking about is dealing with a preexisting construction project in which there are some objective guarantees."

He added "Now, I don't want to get ahead of myself because the fuel has yet to be delivered. The earliest possible date, I believe, which it could be delivered is the springtime. So we'll see. There's a lot of time between now and then. We'll see what Iranian behavior brings us, and we'll see what the final outcome is with regard to this particular resolution, but we think --.. you can either deal with it specifically or generally, and we'll see. We'll see what the results are from this resolution, but we don't think that this particular issue will be an obstacle to getting the kind of resolution that we think is required and is necessary to make sure that Iran does not -- is not able to advance its nuclear weapons program... we'll see what the final resolution comes out to be. We're not going to talk about our specific negotiating stance here in public but other than to say that we think we can deal with it."

Asked if Secretary Rice given the Russians any guarantees on Bushehr when she spoke to President Putin last week and also to the foreign and defense ministers? Did she provide any specific, McCormack said "I think we're -- let's just say we think we can address the issue. Our hope is that we can address it. Getting the kind of resolution that needs to be passed, a strong resolution that sends a message -- not only sends a message to Iran but also has a practical effect of not allowing it to further its development of a nuclear weapons program... I'm sure it will be an issue for discussion right now. I'm just pointing out to you that the construction has not been completed and that you don't have the actual -- under the contract -- delivery of the fuel for some time. So it's not as though it is an issue of fuel being delivered next week or two weeks from now. It's --
QUESTION: But you don't see this as an immediate sort of thing to fight --.. because of where we are in the diplomatic process, it needs to be addressed and dealt with. But in terms of whether or not the reactor actually starts operation and the fuel -- meaning the fuel having been delivered, that's not happening this month or next month."

Asked if the Russians could decide themselves not to deliver the fuel if they decide to -- the situation worsen? McCormack said "between now and then many things can change. You can have a Security Council resolution that gets passed; you can have a change in Iranian behavior. So we'll see -- we'll deal with those circumstances when the time comes. And I'm sure that the Russian Government's decisions will be based on its international obligations as well as what it sees in its national interest as well. So they themselves will make those decisions. Of course, in any sort of arrangement like this, and we'll see how it ultimately comes out, you put -- you're asking states to be responsible states on the outside, like Russia as well as other states, to be responsible in terms of their actions and also to comply with the existing international obligations. And I think that there will be a new one coming up here as we pass a Security Council resolution that imposes sanctions on Iran. So whatever that resolution says, I'm sure that the Russian Government will be faithful in complying with its obligations and enforcing it."

Previous Stories:
  US joint maneuvers in Persian Gulf dangerous: source   (10/23/2006)
  Revolt of American generals; call for US talk with Iran   (10/12/2006)
  US reaches deadlock on Iran's nuclear program: Baku Daily   (10/6/2006)

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