Russia takes aim at US nuclear power by throttling uranium
Limits creates potential supply risks to utilities operating American reactors that generate almost a fifth of the country’s electricity.
Iran could be selling nuclear materials such as uranium and heavy water to other countries by September if a deal is reached in negotiations with the international leaders in Vienna, multiple news outlets report.
According to Russian news website Tass, details of an imminent deal may be unveiled as early as the end of the day Monday.
The potential historic agreement could resolve a 12-year dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The country has hold talks in recent months with the U.S., Britain, Germany, France, Russia and China over how it would curb sensitive nuclear activities for more than a decade in exchange for sanctions relief.
But over the past two weeks, negotiations were deadlocked on the issue of Iranian arms and missile trade, with the deadline for completing a long-term agreement being extended twice.
Under a framework agreement reached in April, Iran would mothball most of its centrifuges that enrich uranium, slash its seven tonne-plus stockpile of low-enriched uranium to just 300kg and convert to research use a heavy water reactor capable of making plutonium, another bomb material.
In return, the U.S., UN and EU would progressively lift sanctions that have strangled the Iranian economy, especially since they were tightened decisively in 2012.
Even if a final deal is announced today, the U.S. Congress has up to 60 days to either ratify or reject it.
Image courtesy of Yale Journal of International Affairs.
Comments
Kenneth Viney
But even if the Congress votes against the deal it is not dead if Obama veto’s the bill against the deal then it would take a super majority to override Obama’s veto. Of course the liberal press will not disclose that until it is a done deal. Already engineer associates in UAE tell me the Koreans are under contract to build a Nuke Power Plant that will produce enough fissible material to build a bomb. Remember that Hillary is all for this deal with Iran. Israel is trying to push the opposition in Iran to form a govt. If that fails they will bomb Iran into submission. Too bad the US has such a weak Administration. I would not send Kerry to negotiate the purchase of an ice cream cone.