Cecil Turner
2007-04-30 08:28:14
In the first place, light water reactors are generally concsidered the best choice because they are less prone to proliferation concerns (the low-enriched uranium fuel is an issue, but at least it doesn’t put out plutonium waste) . . . and it’s been discussed before as part of an anti-nuclear weapons package for Iran. In the second place, the NNPT specifically enjoins participants to cooperate in this sort of thing:
Parties to the Treaty in a position to do so shall also co-operate in contributing alone or together with other States or international organizations to the further development of the applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, especially in the territories of non-nuclear-weapon States Party to the Treaty, with due consideration for the needs of the developing areas of the world.
Not sure it’s feasible to try to hold Iran to the pertinent treaty, whilst simultaneously refusing to abide by it ourselves. In any event, the concern over these particular reactors seems to me misplaced.
