Iran on Tuesday began loading nuclear fuel rods into the core of its first nuclear power plant, bringing the facility a step closer to producing electricity, Iranian state television reported.
"We hope that nuclear electricity would enter the national grid within the next three months," said Ali Akbar Salehi, chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
"We hope that nuclear electricity would enter the national grid within the next three months," said Ali Akbar Salehi, chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, according to the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
U.S., European and Israeli officials worry that Iran is using its civilian nuclear program to mask the illegal pursuit of atomic weapons or at least the ability to produce them, and have declared no option off the table in their attempt to halt the effort.
But Western officials worry that a successful launch of the reactor could encourage Iran to shrug off international sanctions meant to isolate it over its nuclear program. On the other hand, American officials say Bushehr also demonstrates that Iran can buy nuclear fuel from other countries and does not need to produce its own enriched uranium, which can be used to fuel a power plant or, if highly purified, to construct a bomb.
But Western officials worry that a successful launch of the reactor could encourage Iran to shrug off international sanctions meant to isolate it over its nuclear program. On the other hand, American officials say Bushehr also demonstrates that Iran can buy nuclear fuel from other countries and does not need to produce its own enriched uranium, which can be used to fuel a power plant or, if highly purified, to construct a bomb.
