29 Mar 2024
Thursday 13 November 2014 - 15:48
Story Code : 129469

Russia, unlike the US, recognizes Iran as growing power:Middle East expert

Russia, unlike the US, recognizes Iran as growing power:Middle East expert
As Russia and Tehran sign several agreements on the construction of eight nuclear reactors in Iran using Russian technology, Middle East scholar Dr. Stephen Zunes believes the move shows that Russia recognizes Iran as a growing regional power and will compel Iran to agree to some restrictions on its nuclear program.


MOSCOW, November 13 (Sputnik) On Tuesday, Russia and Iransigned several agreementsonthe construction oftwo nuclear reactor units atBushehr, Irans first Russian-built nuclear power plant, using Russian technology.The agreements stipulatethe possibility that six more reactors will be constructed inthe future (two more reactors inBushehr and another four ata separate location).

An inter-agency memorandum ofunderstanding forthe expansion ofcooperation inthe field ofnuclear energy forpeaceful purposes was also signed.

Under the deal, Russia will supply uranium fuel and later collect the plants atomic waste forreprocessing; this is a provision intended toprevent Iran fromusing the spent fuel tobuild atomic weapons.

Russias nuclear power plant construction firm Rosatom has said that the construction ofthe new reactorswill be monitored bythe International Atomic Energy Agency.

Meanwhile, the P5+1 group, which is comprised offive UN Security Council members Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and China, plus Germany, set November 24asthe deadline forreaching a dealthat would ensure that Iran's nuclear program is restricted topeaceful applications.

Dr. Stephen Zunes, Professor ofPolitics and International Studies atthe University ofSan Francisco, where he serves ascoordinator ofthe program inMiddle Eastern Studies, has said the deal might give Iran the political goodwill it needs toagree tosome kind ofcompromise inits stand-off.

The international community asa whole might also benefit, he told Radio Sputnik. The deal could make it easier forIran toagree tothe restrictions that the US and other countries have been trying toplace onother aspects ofIrans nuclear program. It also counts sincethe isolation that Iran was feeling fromP5 plus Germany group put pressure onits nuclear program, especially when the countries likeIndia, Pakistan and Israel are nuclear powers, having nuclear weapons also incontradiction toUN Security Council resolutions.

Iran is a growing regional power, he added. And Russia recognizes this, unlike, forexample, the United States. Regardless ofwhatever disagreements Russia might have withTehran, they recognize that they should be dealt withas a regional power and not tobe dismissed or isolated and they need tobe worked with.

Dr. Stephen Zunes thinks that Russian-Iranian relations are improving, asboth countries have encountered pressure fromthe Western block overvarious issues. Additionally, the deal would simply reflect their own interests asnew neighbors and ascountries which have very much incommon which could benefit fromone another.

By Sputnik News

 

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