Several posts ago, we ran this story: Iranians running short of cash I have been wondering why the Iranians have run short of cash for such an important project. After all $25 million per month is not much cash for Iran. Guess what? The Russians and Iranians have been playing a little charade for us. The Iranians are now using this coincidence in an interrupted supply chain to justify their own manufacture of nuclear fuel.
Russian delay shows there are no guarantees for nuclear fuel delivery: Larijani
Tehran Times Political Desk
TEHRAN – The fact that Russia has delayed delivering nuclear fuel for the Bushehr nuclear power plant shows that there is no guarantee for receiving nuclear fuel from other countries, Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani said here on Tuesday.
The European Union has been claiming that it is ready to guarantee the selling of nuclear fuel to Iran if Tehran freezes its uranium enrichment program.
Russia, which is building Iran’s first nuclear power plant, has delayed delivering nuclear fuel for the station, claiming that Moscow has faced problems in receiving payment from the Islamic Republic.
“It is regrettable. The great Russian government should honor its pledges on time,” Larijani told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting with Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi.
The five permanent members of the Security Council -- the United States, France, Britain, China, and Russia -- plus Germany are considering imposing new sanctions on Iran over its uranium enrichment activities.
The Security Council imposed a package of limited sanctions on Iran in December, barring the transfer of sensitive nuclear technology or expertise. It threatened further steps if Iran ignored the February 21 deadline to suspend enrichment.
Larijani said that if the 5+1 group members take hard-line actions against Iran, they will receive a firm response.
Taking tough measures will only make the Iranians more determined on insisting on their nuclear stance, he added.
“Such measures will make Iranians more unified,” he noted.
Larijani went on to say that Iran participated in the Baghdad conference on Saturday to help resolve the Iraqi security problems through regional cooperation.
“Iraq’s security and development is Iran’s security and development,” he added.
The Baghdad security conference brought together the five permanent members of the Security Council and Iraq’s neighbors to find a way to end the daily bloodshed in Iraq.
