Iran’s first nuclear power plant, the Bushehr Nuclear Plant, will be functional by mid-2010. The Brushehr nuclear power plant project has been the focus of a considerable amount of controversy and concern, especially in the United States. Iran has been facing sanctions in various forms due to this project.
The reactor was built under a pact between the Russian and Iranian governments for USD 800 million. Russia has been working on this plant since 90’s. According to the agreement, the plant was supposed to be completed in 90’s, but due to issues related with UN Security Council, it was delayed.
The United States argued that Iran had ample oil and gas reserves for power generation and that nuclear reactors were unnecessary and could be used for military purposes. The US strongly opposed the project, which was permitted under the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty). Despite this, the Russians continued to collaborate with work on Bushehr. Iran’s claim remained that its nuclear program was for peaceful power-generation purposes and that it would help free up oil and gas resources for export, thus generating additional revenues.
Israel also remained concerned about these activities at Bushehr plant and considered it a threat to their safety. Israeli military continuously monitored the activities through their own imagery satellites. Israel was thought to be considering to attack Bushehr power plant before it becomes operational. Israeli military even conducted military exercise as well in March 2008.
Iran’s nuclear program began way back in the 50’s, surprisingly, with the help and support of United States and Europe, who are the most concerned ones today. Their participation in Iran’s nuclear program continued until Iranian Revolution in 1979.
After the 1979 revolution, the Iranian government temporarily abandoned their nuclear program, and then revived it with less Western and US assistance. The Bushehr plant was begun before Iranian Revolution, in 1974 and abandoned five years later. Russia, then took over building work in the 1990s.
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