The Depth of Iranian Espionage Agents' Infiltration into Russia's Nuclear Complex - 2003-12-07

A Russian atomic physicist who has worked in Iran for a long time says, 'Because of my love for my homeland, Russia, I will do whatever is necessary to prevent Iran from accessing nuclear technology.' This article discusses the reactions to the statements made by this Russian atomic scientist in the United States. 'Mayak,' the Russian atomic physicist who has collaborated closely with Iranian officials and worked in Iranian nuclear centers, states in his declaration: 'Some of my colleagues felt they were victims of such plots and schemes because they had to take actions that violated the Russian Federation's policy on the transfer of technology and information to other countries.' Iran repeatedly requested that 'the Russian Trade Organization and TVEL, the organization that controls violations of international agreements in non-proliferation and nuclear weapon development, keep the matter confidential and conceal those activities from the International Atomic Energy Agency and other Western countries.' The Russian atomic physicist is angry that the international community shows doubt about the feasibility of the Iranian regime's nuclear threat, stating that it is clear to him that Iran's ultimate goal is to build an atomic bomb. 'Ilhan Berman,' Deputy of the American Foreign Policy Council and a conservative thinker in Washington, shares the concerns of the Russian atomic scientist. Berman praises 'Mayak's' courage in expressing these views and states that the Russian scientist's step forward helps unify the efforts of the Russian people and the international community to pressure the Russian government to adhere to its commitments under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. Berman believes that the level of cooperation described by the author of the statement, the Russian atomic physicist, confirms that a significant amount of the U.S. assessments and hypotheses regarding the depth of Iranian espionage agents' infiltration into Russia's nuclear complex is part of Iran's nuclear activities in dealings with both Russia and elsewhere in the world. The fact that the author of the statement has approached the media indicates that his concerns have not been addressed by the current leadership in Moscow. 'Rose Gottemoeller' from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has a different view. She believes that since 1990, when she worked in the Clinton administration, many positive changes have occurred in Russia. She was closely in contact with former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, who tried to exert pressure for some fundamental actions, including greater control over Iranian students in Russia and preventing the illegal transfer of Russian nuclear technologies to Iran.