Progress With Iran?

3 June, 2006. 384 words.

I’ve been encouraged by recent news regarding Iran. Russia and China appear to be getting on board with sanctions against Iran, and that’s definitely a good thing. The U.S. offer of talks with Iran — if they suspend their nuclear enrichment — is a good step. (I’m not precisely sure what we would talk about after their nuclear enrichment is under control, though.)

Here’s something I’m not clear about in this whole situation. I’m not at all knowledgeable about nuclear energy, but cursory research on the subject reveals that a typical nuclear reactor requires uranium enriched to a level of about 4% (exactly what that means, I have no idea — I failed chemistry in high school). Supposedly uranium needs to be enriched to a level of 80% or more to be used in a nuclear weapon. My question is: Are we telling Iran that they have to stop enrichment altogether or just enrichment beyond the 4% level? It sounds like we’re telling them they have to stop altogether, which I presume means they would then have to buy enriched uranium from somewhere else to run any reactors. (Apparently, according to Wikipedia again, Iran does not yet have any functioning civilian reactors, but they have successfully enriched uranium to a 3.5% level — and they currently do not cooperate with the IAEA.)

I have mixed views about this. At first glance, it seems like it would be okay to allow them to enrich to the 4% level so they could have civilian energy, as long as they agree to fully cooperate with IAEA inspections and whatnot. But then, taking into consideration how… what’s the word? Oh yeah: crazy… they are, allowing them to have the technology to perform any enrichment at all seems risky. Especially in light of the whole terrorism sponsorship and Islamic Sharia thing. I suppose one could argue that they have the “right” as a sovereign nation to enrich their own uranium, but I think the world also has the “right” to keep a watchful eye on them. Besides, it’s not like they can’t afford to buy enriched uranium.

All that aside, it looks like the decision to move toward violence or peace is now directly on Iran’s shoulders, which I think is much better than putting it on Bush’s shoulders.

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