Chinese Assisted Iranian Nuke Program

[redsoulja]

i found an article on asiatimes
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FK09Ak03.html

On February 9, 2003, Iran's nuclear program and efforts for building sophisticated facilities at Natanz and several other cities, that would eventually produce enriched uranium, were revealed. China, in 1991, provided Iran with uranium hexafluoride - a uranium compound that is in a gaseous state which is used for enriching uranium. In addition, Iran recently acknowledged that it also received (again in 1991) from China 1,000 kilograms of natural uranium hexafluoride, 400 kilograms of uranium tetrafluoride, and 400 kilograms of uranium dioxide, without reporting them to the IAEA.

this seems interesting
how come china didn't face any US pressure?
and isn't it illegal to do this, and it 's considered proliferation??

 

[webmaster]

This thread doesn't really belong in Strategic forum. Try to post in appropriate forums please!

Moving to WMD/Nukes!

 

[Sq No.15]

Well Chinese Sold missile & nuclear teach to Pak , and Iran which is now cleared with Proof.

I heard news that when Chinese design was found in Libya , Chinese ministry said it was investigating and after that nothing heard .

China Is providing Nuclear tech to those nations which can cause headach to US and also keep US busy while china develop their power.

Commercial Interst is more , thats why US can;t put sanctions to china. Clearly US caught many times while Properating but refain from so becasue of its commerical Intrest.

 

[redsoulja]

sq please do not derail this topic
this is talking about chinese assistance to iran
if u want to talk about other stuuf make a new thread

 

[highsea]

Redsoulja, leave the moderating to the MODS!

Regarding the OP, look at the quantities reported. These are not large amounts by any measure. It is a significant amount for testing and development purposes, but not for actually building a weapon.

Both nations are signatories of the NPT, so the transfer was illegal from that perspective only if it was not reported, and is above the proliferation threshold. Regardless, such a small quantity is unlikely to generate much of a response from the IAEA. Certainly they have made no big fuss in the 11 months since the story was reported.

Keep in mind that Iran is permitted to enrich Uranium to fuel grade levels under the NPT. Also China is permitted to sell uranium to signatory nations for that use. So there is not a lot anyone can really say, unless the IAEA wants to reprimand China and Iran with a scolding. The US can complain to the IAEA, which we did, and we can complain directly to China via diplomatic channels, which I am sure we also did.

China has been involved with Iran's Nuclear Program for some time. Four of Iran's research reactors were built by China. China has provided Iran with plans for a UF6 reprocessing facility, and Iran and China inked a deal for two 300MW power reactors back in 1992. 1,000 kg. of UF6 is a just drop in the bucket.