The loading of enriched uranium has commenced at Iran’s first nuclear power plant.
Despite Tehran’s steadfast refusal to comply with international demands to cease uranium enrichment—amid concerns that the Islamic Republic may be covertly constructing a nuclear bomb—Moscow continues to assist Iran.
According to Rosatom spokesman Sergei Novikov, uranium fuel dispatched by Russia has been inserted into the Bushehr reactor, initiating the startup sequence.
He remarked, ‘From that moment the Bushehr plant will be officially considered a nuclear-energy installation.’
The United States has urged Russia to postpone the startup until Iran can demonstrate that it is not in the process of developing nuclear weapons.
Nevertheless, Russian officials assert that the most recent U.N. sanctions imposed on Iran will not impact the Bushehr project.
In 1995, Russia entered into a $1 billion agreement to construct the Bushehr plant, yet completion of the project has faced significant delays.
Moscow has cited technical justifications for these delays, but analysts believe it has leveraged the project to compel Iran to moderate its defiance regarding its nuclear initiatives.
Novikov mentioned that Rosatom’s chief, Sergei Kiriyenko, traveled to Bushehr in 
southern Iran for the ceremony, which was also attended by Iran’s Vice President Ali Akbar Salehi, who also oversees the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin stated in March that operations at the Bushehr plant would commence this summer. Several Iranian lawmakers have accused Russia of delaying progress on the project due to Western influence.
Moscow maintains that the Bushehr project has been carefully monitored by the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
It has been confirmed by Russian officials that Iran has committed to returning all spent uranium fuel from Bushehr back to Russia for reprocessing, thereby ruling out any potential for its use in creating nuclear weapons.
Russia has argued that the Bushehr project is crucial for persuading Iran to engage with the IAEA and uphold its commitments under international nuclear nonproliferation treaties.
In June, the U.N. Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran in response to its nuclear activities.
This action followed Iran’s refusal to halt uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for energy generation or, when enhanced to a higher degree, serve as material for nuclear warheads.
While Iran asserts that its nuclear intentions are strictly peaceful, aimed at generating nuclear energy, the United States and other nations suspect that Tehran’s true objective is to develop atomic weapons.
For years, Russia has maintained a balanced approach towards Iran.
As one of the six nations spearheading international efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring an atomic bomb, it has endorsed U.N. sanctions while simultaneously condemning the U.S. and the European Union for implementing separate and more stringent measures.
by Sash Dubronitz
