Reflection on Russian Scientist's Report Regarding Iran's Nuclear Activities - 2003-12-09

A prominent Russian nuclear scientist who has worked in Iran stated in a declaration read at the Krasnoyarsk center in Russia that due to his love for his homeland, Russia, he will do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from accessing nuclear technology. The following discusses the reactions in the United States to the statements made by this Russian nuclear scientist. Rose Gottemoeller from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes that since 1990, when she worked in the Clinton administration, there have been many positive changes in Russia. She states that the issue is very clear; the Russian government has gradually received the message about the danger of nuclear weapons in Iran. This threat is significant even for the Russian Federation itself. As a result, we have seen that the Russian government has reduced its level of cooperation with the Iranian government. The first example is that the Russian government essentially told the Iranian regime that instead of assisting in the development of the power plant's consumption capacities, it will provide nuclear fuel for the Bushehr reactor and will take back the remaining fuel. Thus, this is truly a step in the right direction. Mr. Ilan Berman stated that this is not enough. He believes that the Kremlin must be more vigilant, aware, responsible, and accountable regarding its international commitments. At the same time, the United States must coordinate more effectively in its joint operations with other friendly countries to deter Iran from continuing its nuclear ambitions. Mr. Berman suggests that more agreements in the international community are necessary to prevent and deter the Iranian regime's nuclear capabilities. To achieve this, there must be a genuine consensus and agreement in preventing the Iranian regime from continuing its nuclear weapons program, which means that U.S. officials must primarily negotiate with Moscow and also with Beijing and several other capitals to encourage them to refrain from sending more nuclear technologies and continuing nuclear contracts. John Bolton, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, stated that the United States has taken very positive steps towards this goal. Mr. Bolton mentioned that we have agreed with our European friends and indeed with all members of the board of the observer governments in the International Atomic Energy Agency to focus attention on Iran's activities and to inform this government that, according to a resolution unanimously adopted at the meeting of the board of the observer governments of the IAEA, any further violations by the Iranian regime in the future could lead to the referral of the issue to the United Nations Security Council. Therefore, we believe that the Iranian regime's program is under close scrutiny, and the main issue now is whether the Iranian regime complies with the provisions of the resolution issued by the IAEA.