Iran’ nuclear program was launched in 1950s with the help of United States and other European governments. Till 1979 the support from US and other European nations continued. The Iranian government after 1979 temporarily dissolved the elements of nuclear program but after sometime revived it with less influence of western help. It has several research sites such as 2 uranium mines, research reactor, and 3 uranium enrichment plants.
Iran’s first nuclear plant, Bushehr I reactor was launched on21 august 2010. Iran is also planning the construction of 19 nuclear power plants and it is also willing to seek more medium size power plants and uranium mines in future. The controversies started arising when Iran failed to declare sensitive enrichment and reprocessing activities to the international atomic agency (IAEA) . The enrichment is usually done to produce uranium for fuel reactor or for it can be used for making weapons. But Iran has claimed its nuclear program is peaceful and uranium enriched is less than 5% and fuel for civilian power plant. Iran was asked to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities by IAEA boards of governors when it disobeyed the safeguard agreement to UN Security Council. But Iran decided to pursue its nuclear program through legal path, international atomic energy agency.
Iran could not meet the obligations of NPT safeguards agreement to inform its nuclear program activities to IAEA, and it has reported no proof of links to a nuclear weapon program. Iran was sanctioned by the council of united nation when it refused to suspend its nuclear program. Iran was given an option in exchange with suspending its enrichment program. A longtime arrangement, development of relation and corporation with Iran on mutual respect and maintaining international confidence in the very peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program. But Iran has shown no interest in long term agreements as it claims they are unreliable and would deprive it from its right to peaceful nuclear technology.
