Establishing a nuclear fuel bank has been in the cards for years as politicians and relevant experts ponder ways how best to achieve this gargantuan task.
Javier Solana, the European Union’s foreign policy chief this week stressed the need for such an international body at a meeting of the European Parliament.
He predicted rapidly increasing global demand for nuclear energy, and added that countries seeking nuclear know-how should have access to nuclear fuel without the compulsions of enriching uranium.
The top EU diplomat in October called for the formation of a global body for enriching uranium under the supervision of the international community and provide all countries with enriched uranium without discrimination.
Such proposals on surface may seem rather interesting, but deep down they aim to promote the political-economic interests of the big powers desperate to restrict uranium enriching technology to an exclusive club.
Developing countries in big numbers have declared their intention to develop nuclear technology for meeting their rising energy needs, especially after international oil prices started going through the roof in recent years.
Under the circumstances the big powers want to set up the nuclear fuel bank by making some changes to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. It is amply clear that some western states aim to dominate the increasingly lucrative nuclear fuel market, and to the best of their ability deprive the developing world from producing its own nuclear fuel.
To this end, westerners have for long been trying to exert pressure on Iran and prevent it from enriching uranium for its civilian nuclear program and the several new nuclear power plants it wants to commission in the near future. Tehran’s declared intention is in accordance with the NPT to which it is a signatory.
In light of power politics of our unjust world order and the greed/corruption of big players, stopping production of nuclear fuel and depending on others and their fancies would be suicidal to say the least.
And which informed observer is unaware that when it comes to Iran the western states, in particular Germany, France and Britain, are notorious for respecting the law in the breach if and when their insatiable interests demand?
Long before the 1979 revolution Iran had a 10 percent stake in the French nuclear giant Eurodif. After the pro-western monarchy disappeared and the Islamic Republic was born Paris shamelessly nullified the deal unilaterally and refused to deliver nuclear fuel for Iran’s nuclear program.
There is no binding international rule that compels suppliers of nuclear fuel to stick to their obligations and not use the “fuel card“ to pressure other countries.
In these conditions, there is no legal or logical basis for Iran to reverse its uranium enrichment program and sacrifice its legitimate interests on the altar of western oppression and greed.