Iran has been pursuing its nuclear programme for more than 50 years and the purpose for which it is being pursued is doubtful especially with two decades of clandestine activities and its use of centrifuge enrichment technology, making the detection of secret uranium enrichment very difficult.[1] The revelation of a secret uranium enrichment site at Natanz, heavy water reactor at Arak, and the discovery of a new uranium enrichment plant at Qom in September 2009, among others, is considered internationally as a likely indicator of a nuclear weapon build-up by Iran.
These undeclared activities of Iran and plutonium separation efforts leaves many to argue that Iran’s nuclear programme is intended for the development of nuclear weapons , a violation of the NPT safeguard agreement.[2]Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is peaceful, contrary to international assertions. However it considers its national interest and security as core and must survive in an international political arena where the struggle for power is endless.
This paper examines the purpose for which Iran is enriching uranium by looking at Iran’s Nuclear Programme and the right to peaceful use of nuclear technology, a cover which Iran is using to advance its nuclear programme. It considers available facts to show whether Iran is advancing the build-up of a nuclear weapon through its uranium enrichment programme, considering the fact that it must protect its national interest and security which it considers threatened by the West. Using the Realist Theory of cooperation in International Relations, the paper discusses cooperation between Iran, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the West and suggests diplomacy and negotiation to ensure cooperation.
An insight on how nuclear energy is generated and the level at which uranium can be enriched for either military or civil use is considered. A background to the nuclear crisis, the role of the West and the resolutions of the United Nations (UN) on Iran is presented. A likely pointer of Iran’s nuclear intention, using available facts is considered. The final part discuses the realist cooperation theory and Iran’s refusal to cooperate, and calls for enhanced diplomacy and negotiation by all parties concerned before arriving at a conclusion.
NUCLEAR ENERGY AND URANIUM ENRICHMENT
Nuclear Energy originates from the splitting of uranium atoms in a process called fission. It involves the collision of one neutron with one nucleus of uranium producing energy with two neutrons and two nucleuses of uranium.[3]Atomic Bomb and Nuclear Reactors work with fission. The element uranium is the main fuel used to undergo fission to produce energy since it has many favorable properties.[4]
Uranium Enrichment is an isotopic separation process that increases the proportion of Uranium-235 isotope in relation to Uranium-238 natural uranium. The enrichment process is done through the increase of the proportion of U235 by separating it from U238 through a centrifuge. To generate electricity (Peaceful use), the concentration of U235 must be increased to between 3 and 5 percent. It must be refined to a level of over 80 percent to create the core of an atomic bomb (Military use).[5]
It can be deduced from the above that about 5 percent of enriched uranium can generate electricity. However, at the 31st anniversary of the Iranian Islamic Revolution in February 2010, President Ahmadinejad of Iran had announced that Iran was now a nuclear state after producing its first consignment of 20 percent of enriched uranium at Natanz and that it was capable of enriching up to 80 percent.[6] This is a show of sovereignty and power, demonstrating the anarchic nature of the world, a realist view of international relations.
A look at the nuclear programme in now necessary.
IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAMME
In the 1950s, Iran signed of a nuclear cooperation programme with the United States under the Atom for Peace programme.[7]This cooperation led to the establishment of a Nuclear Research Centre in Tehran in 1959 which was equipped with a 5MW nuclear reactor, supplied by the United States and fuelled with Highly Enriched Uranium (HEU).[8]Following the ratification of the NPT in 1968 and 1970 respectively, plans to build 23 nuclear power stations by the 1990s, with the cooperation of the United States was set in motion by Iran .The obvious reason for this nuclear access was to provide for the growing need of Iran’s economy thereby enhancing oil export or conversion to petrochemicals[9], a core national interest.
Construction of the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor by the Germans started in the mid-1970s with plans to produce 23,000MW of electricity through nuclear power. This was however halted following the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the fears of likely nuclear weapon programme by Iran were abated.[10]In 1975, the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Centre, a light-water sub-critical reactor was established with the help of the French. In 1992, Iran and Russia entered into a contract for the completion of the Bushehr Nuclear Reactor which was expected to provide 1000MWe to the national grid upon completion in 2007, but this was not achieved for obvious reasons.[11] The Chinese helped in constructing a plutonium production reactor.
At Natanz, a uranium enrichment facility exists, which is a 25 feet underground structure with protective shield, leaving Iran’s uranium enrichment programme with grave suspicion. Arak play host to a heavy water reactor, and Qom, a new uranium enrichment site.
THE NUCLEAR CRISIS AND NPT
Iran’s nuclear crisis started in 2002 when the National Council of Resistance revealed Iran’s clandestine nuclear activities by providing information about Natanz’ uranium enrichment facility and Arak’ heavy water reactor in Iran.[12]The construction of these facilities were keep secret for eighteen years and this heightened the U.S suspicion that Iran was enriching uranium for military purposes. Inspection by IAEA revealed secret uranium enrichment effort by Iran and separation of plutonium as well as undeclared imported materials.[13]Bench scale uranium conversion experiments in the 1990s and the use of some safeguard materials that were declared missing was however admitted by Iran in 2003, a safeguard violation under the NPT.
Issues became worst when Iranian officials informed the IAEA in 2005 that A.Q.Khan, a Pakistani scientist, offered them centrifuge enrichment ‘starter kit’ and that the Khan network provided it with information on casting and machining parts of nuclear weapon.[14]This suspicion of a nuclear build-up made the U.S request that Iran be reported to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). In September 2009, a new uranium enrichment plant was discovered near Qom, leaving the West with great cause to worry that Iran’s uranium enrichment programme was geared towards the build-up of a nuclear weapon.[15]
THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY (NPT)
The NPT as an arm control treaty seeks to guard against the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Proposed by Ireland, the treaty was opened for signature in July 1968 and came into effect in 1970 with Finland as the first signatory. It focuses on three fundamental pillars to wit: Nuclear non-proliferation; Nuclear disarmament; and the Right to peaceful use of nuclear technology.[16] Upon Coming into force, the NPT recognized five states [17]as Nuclear Nations (NN), having tested their nuclear bomb by January 1967.They agreed not to transfer nuclear weapons to Non-Nuclear Nations (NNN) and the NNN agreed to open their nuclear facilities for inspection by IAEA and not to develop nuclear weapon.
By virtue of Article IV of the NPT, states have right to peaceful use of nuclear technology, an obvious lacuna in the treaty that is now used as a cover to build nuclear weapons. Article X allows member states to withdraw upon giving notice that its national interest is jeopardized.[18] The promotion of national interest, like power, is an iron law of necessity according to realist and states must ensure their survival in an international environment.[19]
Nutshell
For many years Iran’s Nuclear Programme has aroused international suspicion and criticisms for being too secretive and Iran has been accused of violating the NPT Safeguard agreement and failing to fully cooperate with the IAEA. Pointers of likely military use of its enriched uranium suggest that Iran seeks more than just power generation in its Nuclear Programme. This is the first instalment of this interesting read. Here, Azubuike examines the purpose for which Iran is enriching uranium, by looking at Iran’s nuclear programme and the military indicators. He also considers Iran’s enrichment activities and the right to peaceful use of nuclear technology. Read, Learn, Share and Discuss!
[1] Squassoni, S., Iran’s Nuclear Programme: Recent Developments, CRS Report for Congress, September, 2006 at http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/nuke/RS2215922.pdf. (accessed 21st April,2011)
[2] Ibid, pg 2
[3] What is Nuclear Energy at http;//www.westinghousenulear.com/Community/What Is Nuclear Energy.shtm (accessed 20th April, 2011).
[4] Nuclear Energy at http:www.library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclearenergy.html (accessed 20th April, 20110).
[5] Factbox: What is Uranium Enrichment at http://www.reuters.com/article/2010//122/06//us-nuclear-iran-enrichment-idUSTREB51 Y82010120 (accessed 20th April, 2011).
[6] Iran marks 31st anniversary of Islamic Revolution, February 2010, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/news/2010/02/100211_iran_anniversary_nh_sl._shtml. (accessed 21st April,2011).
[7] Bello, F.,Is Iran’s Nuclear Programme for Energy Security ,or for Weapons of Mass Destruction? Issue 11&12 I E L T R.,(2006),pg274.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Ibid, pg 275.
[10] Supra, note1, pg 1
[11] supra, note 8, pg 275
[12] Ibid., fn 1 at pg 2
[13] Ibid.
[14] Ibid.,pg3 .Khan is known as the father of Pakistan’s nuclear weapon.
[15] Is this the Qom enrichment plant? at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/julian-borger-global-security-blog/2009/sep/26/iran-nuclear-qom1 (accessed 21st April, 2011).
[16] Ubajaka, C.E., Iran’s Nuclear Crisis and Threats to Energy Security: Any Long Lasting Solution?, (Unpublished LL.M Paper submitted to the CEPMLP ,University of Dundee,2006).pg3.
[17] The US, United Kingdom, Russia, China and France.
[18] supra, note16, pg 4
[19] Baylis,J., et al, The Globalization of World Politics, An introduction to International Relations (4th ed.) (2008). 92-93.
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