Senior Policy Director John Erath spoke with the Kyiv Independent about Russia withdrawing scientists from an Iranian nuclear plant after Israeli strikes.
John Erath, senior policy director for the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, echoed the sentiment.
“There was some question as to why they would build a nuclear power plant at great expense when they had no room for energy. I think the motives were pretty clear: Iran wanted experience with the technologies. They wanted to develop greater technical expertise and manage nuclear materials,” Erath told the Kyiv Independent. He maintained, however, that “Bushehr doesn’t have a role in the weapons program.”
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Even without Israel attacking, experts were doubtful that Russia would build these new plants. Their announcement was, rather, a “symbolic” gesture of support.
“They want to show cooperation with Russia,” said Erath. “The nuclear power sector is something that’s important to the Russian government. It’s one of the areas that they export that has high value, that the Russians still are exporting, profiting from, when the rest of their economy is in big trouble.”
