This annotated chronology is based on the data sources that follow each entry. Public sources often provide conflicting information on classified military programs. In some cases we are unable to resolve these discrepancies, in others we have deliberately refrained from doing so to highlight the potential influence of false or misleading information as it appeared over time. In many cases, we are unable to independently verify claims. Hence in reviewing this chronology, readers should take into account the credibility of the sources employed here.
Inclusion in this chronology does not necessarily indicate that a particular development is of direct or indirect proliferation significance. Some entries provide international or domestic context for technological development and national policymaking. Moreover, some entries may refer to developments with positive consequences for nonproliferation.
1957
The United States and Iran sign a civil nuclear cooperation agreement as part of the US Atoms for Peace program. The agreement, which provides for technical assistance and the lease of several kilograms of enriched uranium, also calls for cooperation on research on the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
—US Department of State, "Atoms for Peace Agreement with Iran," Department of State Bulletin 36 (15 April 1957), p. 629; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 84.
1957
The Institute of Nuclear Science, under the auspices of the Central Treaty Organization (CENTO), moves from Baghdad to Tehran, and the Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, takes a personal interest in nuclear energy.
—His Imperial Majesty Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi Shahanshah of Iran, Mission for My Country (London: Hutchinson, 1961), pp. 307-308.
1959
The Shah orders the establishment of a nuclear research center at Tehran University.
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 84.
1960
Iran arranges to purchase a 5MW research center at Tehran University.
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 84.
1960s
While the United States is supplying a research reactor, it also sells Iran many hot cells. [Note: The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists describes hot cells as "heavily shielded rooms with remotely operated arms used to chemically separate material irradiated in the research reactor, possibly including plutonium laden 'targets'."]
—David Albright, "An Iranian Bomb?," The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (Washington, DC), January 1995, <http://www.bullatomsci.org>, accessed 7 July 2002; David Albright and Mark Hibbs, "Spotlight Shifts to Iran," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 1992, pp. 9-11.
11 February 1961
The US Department of State disagrees with the Joint Chiefs of Staff's suggestion to place nuclear weapons in Iran as part of US policy toward Iran.
—George A. Morgan, "Iran- The Current Internal Political Situation in Iran," Secret Internal Paper, 11 February 1988, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
September 1967
The United States supplies 5.545kg of enriched uranium, of which 5.165kg contain fissile isotopes, to Iran for fuel in a research reactor. The United States also supplies 112g of plutonium, of which 104g are fissile isotopes, for use as "start-up sources for research reactor."
—"US Supplied Nuclear material to Iran," 29 January 1980; in Digital National Security Archive <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
November 1967
The 5MWt pool-type, water-moderated research reactor supplied to Iran by GA Technologies of the United States goes critical, using 5.585kg of 93% enriched uranium supplied by the United Nuclear Corporation to the United States. [Note: The United States halted the supply of highly enriched uranium fuel loads for the reactor in 1979 due to the Islamic Revolution. See relevant entry.]
—Richard Kessler, "Argentina Offers Research Reactor Upgrade and New Unit for Iran," Nuleonics Week, 22 January 1987, p. 4; Samini Seneviratne, "IAEA Approves Argentine Fuel for Tehran Research Reactor," NuclearFuel, 3 October 1988, p. 13; Warren H. Donnelly and Zachary S. Davis, "Iran's Nuclear Activities and the Congressional Response," CRS Issue Brief, Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress, 20 May 1992.
1 July 1968
Iran signs the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) on the day it is opened for signature.
—Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 186.
March 1969
Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) of France agrees to repair the research reactor in Tehran.
—James F. Keeley, ed., Listing of Bilateral Civilian Nuclear Co-operation Agreements, Strategic Studies Program of the University of Calgary.
13 March 1969
The White house approves the amendments to the Iran-United States Agreement for Cooperation concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy of 1957, which prolongs the agreement for 10 years.
—"Proposed Agreement for Cooperation between the US Government and the Government of Iran concerning the Civil Uses of Atomic Energy," Memorandum, 13 March 1969, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
2 February 1970
Iran ratifies the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
—The Annual Report for 1992, International Atomic Energy Agency, Document GC (XXXVII) 1060, July 1993, p. 140.
December 1972
The Iranian government announces that it intends to obtain nuclear power plants within the next ten years, and Iran's Ministry of Water and Power begins to study the possibility of constructing a nuclear power plant in southern Iran.
—"Nuclear Plant Study Started," Kayhan International, 19 December 1972; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 189.
1973-1976
Argentina, with the Peronist party in power, conducts "shady nuclear trade" with Iran. [Note: No details are provided, but this could possibly include the supply of advice on nuclear energy provided in May 1974. See May 1974.]
—Richard Kessler, "Argentina to Continue Seeking Nuclear Sales to Middle East," Nucleonics Week, 27 April 1989, p. 11; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1974
Iran makes a $1 billion loan to Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique (CEA) to build a uranium enrichment plant at Tricastin, France for the Eurodif consortium. In return, Iran will receive a 10% stake in the plant and may increase its share to 15% in later years. Iran asks for French assistance in uranium prospecting. [Note: In 1977 Iran agrees to make an additional payment for future uranium enrichment services from Eurodif. See 1977. Iran cancels its agreements with Eurodif during the Islamic Revolution in 1979. See relevant entry.]
—Ali Reza Jahan-Shahi, "Iran and France to Jointly Build Uranium Plant," Tehran Journal, 5 January 1975; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 190.; Clyde H. Farnsworth, "France Gives Iran Stake in Uranium," New York Times, 4 January 1975; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 190; "France and Iran Talk Over Loan" Nuclear Engineering International, August 1990, p. 4.
March 1974
The Shah announces that Iran intends to generate 23,000MWe at nuclear power plants "as soon as possible," with an initial target date of 1994. The Shah establishes the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), with the Swiss-trained nuclear physicist Dr. Akbar Etemad as its chairman, and announces that it will be run under his direct supervision. The AEOI's budget for fiscal year 1975 is set at $30.8 million.
—Kayhan International, 3 August 1974, p. 4; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 86, 92; Tehran Journal, 18 March 1974, p. 2; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World, (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982). Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 189; Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 86.
1 April 1974
The US Secretary of State tells the US ambassador to Iran that the United States is prepared to explore possibilities of cooperation with Iran and that the Chairman of the US Atomic Energy Commission is prepared to go to Tehran with a group of experts to explore the best avenues for cooperation with Iran in the field of nuclear energy.
—"Issues and Talking Points: Intensified Bilateral Cooperation," Department of State Briefing Paper, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
11 April 1974
A US State Department telegram says the United States considers cooperation with Iran in the field of nuclear energy as an alternative means for energy production to be a suitable area for joint collaboration and cooperation. The Secretary of State suggests for this to be the first working group for the US-Iran joint economic commission. The United States also prepares the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission with a team of experts to visit Tehran to discuss the most useful ways in which the two countries could cooperate.
—"US-Iran Cooperation," Department of State Telegram, 11 April 1974, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
May 1974
During a trip to Iran, US Atomic Energy Commission chairperson Dr. Dixy Lee Ray mentions the possibility of establishing regional enrichment and reprocessing facilities for the Middle East. [Note: In March 1975, Iran suggests that a reprocessing facility be located in Iran. See March 1975.]
—Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 190.
May 1974
Following an official visit to Tehran by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, Iran and India issue a communiqué stating that contacts will be made "between the atomic energy organizations in the two countries in order to establish a basis for cooperation in this field."
—"Full Text of Iran-India Joint Communique," Iran Almanac (Tehran: The Echo of Iran, 1974), p. 176; Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 193.
May 1974
Rear Admiral Oscar Armando Quihillat, the former president of Argentina's Atomic Energy Commission, visits Tehran and provides Iran with advice on nuclear energy.
—James F. Clarity, "Iran Negotiates for Nuclear Energy Aid," New York Times, 27 May 1974; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 193.
15 May 1974
Iran's safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) enters into force.
—The Annual Report for 1992, International Atomic Energy Agency, Document GC(XXXVII)1060, July 1993, p. 140; Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 187.
30 May 1974
The visit by the United States Atomic Energy Commission Chairman, Dixie Ray, lays the ground work for collaboration, and assures Iran of US intentions with regard to cooperation in the field of nuclear energy.
—"Summary of Developments in Secretary's Absence," 30 May 1974, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
June 1974
The Shah of Iran says that Iran will have nuclear weapons, "without a doubt and sooner than one would think." The statement is denied by Iran's embassy in France, and the Shah later backs off the statement, reaffirming that "not only Iran, but also other nations in the region should refrain from planning to gain atomic arsenals."
—John K. Cooley, "More Fingers on Nuclear Trigger?," Christian Science Monitor, 25 June 1974; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 199; "The Shah Meets the Press," Kayhan International, 5 October 1974; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 199.
June 1974
Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Chairman Akbar Etemad and the Shah travel to Paris, where France and Iran ratify a preliminary agreement for France to supply five 1,000MWe reactors, uranium, and a nuclear research center to Iran. [Note: According to Poneman, a final agreement for construction of two initial units, to be built at the town of Darkhovin, on the river Karun, is not reached until October 1977, following an October 1976 agreement. However, Cahn indicates that an agreement for two reactors is reached in November 1974. See relevant entries. Apparently no progress is made on the supply of a research center; no location is mentioned.]
—Kayhan International, 29 June 1974, p. 1; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World, (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 88.
June 1974
The United States and Iran reach a provisional agreement for the United States to supply two nuclear power reactors and enriched uranium fuel. [Note: A broader agreement is reached the following year. See 1975 entry.]
—Kayhan International, 29 June 1974, p. 1; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World, (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 87.
October 1974
Several sources report that Iran has expressed interest in purchasing uranium from Australia on a regular basis.
—"Iran is Interested in Uranium—Whitlam," Kayhan International, 5 October 1974; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 190.
20 October 1974
A State Department document says the United States and Iran are preparing to negotiate an agreement that would permit the sale of nuclear reactors as well as enriched fuel "at levels desired by the Shah." The administration is also awaiting Atomic Energy Commission's approval to present Iran with a draft of a nuclear cooperation agreement. [The United States also notifies the Shah of their support for Iran's proposal to buy up to 25% interest in a commercial uranium enrichment plant.]
—Alfred L. Atherton, "Strategy for your visit to Iran," Confidential Department of State Briefing Memorandum, 20 October 1974, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
November 1974
Iran signs agreements to purchase two 1200MWe pressurized water reactors (PWRs) from the German firm Kraftwerk Union (KWU) to be installed at Bushehr and two 900 MWe reactors from Framatome of France to be installed at Bandar-e Abbas. Under the contracts, France and Germany will provide enriched uranium for the initial loading and ten years' worth of reloads. The plants are to be provided on a "super turnkey" basis, with the foreign companies supplying both nuclear facilities and supporting infrastructure. The French reactors are to be built under license from Westinghouse of the United States. [Note: Preliminary agreement for the French reactors was reached in June 1974; Poneman says further agreement is reached in October 1976 and the deal is not finalized until October 1977. See relevant entries. The 1200MWe reactors are sometimes referred to as 1293MW. See 3 Decmeber 1996 and 6 March 1990.]
—Ann Maclachlan, "Iran Seeking Way To Finish Bushehr Plant But Bonn Denies Exports," Nucleonics Week, 30 October 1986, Vol. 27, No. 44, pp. 4-5; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; "Iran into Uranium in Big Way—Etemad," Kayhan International, 30 November 1974; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 189-191.
3 November 1974
The United States and Iran agree to form a US-Iran Joint Commission intended to strengthen ties between the two countries various fields, and particularly that of nuclear energy and power generation, for which an agreement is under discussion. In the meantime, provisional contracts have been signed for the United States to provide enriched fuel for eight power reactors, whose construction is under discussion between Iran and American firms. Both sides have agreed to discourage further national development of nuclear weapons capabilities as per the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which both countries are signatories.
—"US-Iran Joint Statement," Unclassified Briefing Paper, 3 November 1974, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
7 November 1974
A US State Department document says nuclear cooperation between Iran and the United States is the centerpiece of the US-Iran Commission, per the wishes of the Shah. The document suggests that the efforts for nuclear energy should be headed by the US Energy Research and Development Administration (ERDA), whose head should be an unofficial member of the Joint Commission.
—Robert S. Ingersoll, "US-Iran Joint Commission," Secret Briefing Memorandum, 7 November 1974, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
Mid-1970s
Denmark supplies Iran with 10kg of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and 25kg of natural uranium for research reactor fuel. [Note: After Iraqi bomb attacks on Iran's Bushehr reactors in November 1987, the International Atomic Energy Agency confirms that Iran had moved a small amount of research reactor fuel to the site in hopes of heading off an attack. One source indicates the fuel was supplied by Denmark.]
—Mark Hibbs, "Bushehr Construction Now Remote After Three Iraqi Air Strikes," Nucleonics Week, 26 November 1987, pp. 5-6.
1975
According to US specialist George Quester, Iran's Atomic Energy Commission currently has a staff of approximately 150 individuals trained in nuclear physics, with more than half of the Commission's foreign staff coming from Argentina. A high-level Iranian official says British and American nuclear energy advisors are also being brought into Iran, and implies that Iran also receives advisors from India. Iran is sending 100 students abroad for advanced training in nuclear science, and it plans to send 300 students in 1976 to West Germany, the United States, France, and the United Kingdom.
—George Quester, "The Shaw and the Bomb" (unpublished paper, 1975), and a private interview conducted in February 1975; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 199.
1975
Iran's delegate to the Geneva Disarmament Conference reaffirms his country's opposition to nuclear weapons development. The Shah of Iran claims that the prospect of Iranian nuclear weapons is "ridiculous" considering the arsenals held by the United States and Soviet Union.
—Ernest W. Lefever, Nuclear Arms in the Third World (Washington, DC: The Brookings Institution, 1979), p. 52.
1975
US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Iranian Finance Minster Hushang Ansari sign a broad trade agreement that calls for the purchase of eight reactors valued at $6.4 billion. The US Atomic Energy Commission agrees to supply Iran with fuel for two 1,200MWe light water reactors and signs a provisional agreement to supply fuel for as many as six additional reactors with a total power capacity of 8,000MWe. The fuel agreements, however, are both subject to US governmental approval.
—The Times (London); in Poneman p. 87 and Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 190.
January 1975
The chairmen of the member-states of the Atomic Energy Commissions of the Regional Cooperation for Development (Pakistan, Iran, and Turkey) meet to discuss "ground rules for a joint atomic energy organization."
—Irfan Parviz, "Regional Atom Chiefs in Talks on Three-Country Organization," Tehran Journal, 27 January 1975; in Cahn, p. 193.
February 1975
Iran and India sign a nuclear cooperation agreement.
—US Department of State, "Atoms for Peace Agreement with Iran," Department of State Bulletin 36 (15 April 1957), p. 629.
February 1975
The Shah of Iran says his country has "no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons but if small states began building them, then Iran might have to reconsider its policy."
—Der Spiegel, 8 February 1975; in Anne Hessing Cahn, "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," "Determinants of the Nuclear Option: The Case of Iran," Nuclear Proliferation in the Near-Nuclear Countries (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Co., 1975), Onkar Marwah and Ann Shulz, eds., p. 199.
8 February 1975
A State Department memorandum to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on the meetings of the US-Iran Joint Commission says Iran is interested in at least four dual-purpose nuclear power and desalination plants, worth about $1 billion each, which could be contracted to US companies. The memo says French and German companies won four projects by agreeing to provide them as "super-turnkey" projects.
—Charles W. Robinson, "Major Economic Cooperation Projects with Iran," Confidential Memorandum, 8 February 1975, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
March 1975
The Iranians push for reprocessing facilities to be located in Iran. The United States and Iran continue discussions on the issue.
—Leslie H. Gelb, "U.S. Nuclear Deal with Iran Delayed," The New York Times, 8 March 1975, p. 2.
3-4 March 1975
The US-Iran Joint Commission meets in Washington, DC. The State Department reports that the two sides make progress in negotiating the agreement on cooperation in the civil uses of atomic energy, which would provide for the exchange of peaceful nuclear information and the transfer of nuclear equipment and enriched uranium. Iran says it will award contracts to US firms for nuclear power and desalination plants of up to 8,000MW. Iran says it is prepared to invest $2.75 billion in a private enrichment plant in the United States.
—"Current Foreign Relations: US-Iran Commission cements bilateral ties; Iraq and Iran agree to settle differences," Secret Report [State], 12 March 1975, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
27 March 1975
US Energy Research and Development Administration officials rank several countries in descending order of their likelihood to seek nuclear weapons development: India, Taiwan, South Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, and Iran [least likely].
—M. Gordon Jones, "Discussion of Pakistan's Nuclear Program," Confidential Letter, 1 April 1975, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
9 May 1975
A US State Department briefing memorandum to Secretary of State Henry Kissinger says that the outstanding issue in the US-Iranian nuclear accord is whether to allow Iran to reprocess US-supplied plutonium. The memo says Iran likes the idea of a multinational reprocessing plant but wants US agreement to allow Iran to reprocess US fuel if Iran makes a "good faith" effort to establish a multinational reprocessing plant. The US position, as approved by the President, the memo says, is to limit the risk of nuclear proliferation by requiring that a multinational plant be realized before Iran is authorized to reprocess US fuel.
—Sidney Sober, "Your Meeting with the Shah at Blair House," Confidential Briefing Memorandum, 9 May 1975, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
7 July 1975
A US State Department memorandum says Pakistan expects to recover 50% of the cost of the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant's cost from reprocessing Iran and Japan's spent fuel.
—Teresita Schaffer, "Status of Pakistan's Reprocessing Plant," Limited Official Use Memorandum, 7 July 1976, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
August 1975
A German team from Kraftwerk Union (KWU) begins work on the Bushehr reactors on the basis of a letter of intent. [Note: An agreement for the supply of two reactors was reached in November 1974, but no contract is signed until mid-1976. See relevant entries.]
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 89.
October 1975-September 1976
The budget for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is increased from $30.8 million in fiscal year 1975 to more than $1 billion for fiscal year 1976.
—United States Energy Research and Development Administration, "Iran: Atomic Energy Programme," October 1976, p. 3.
1976
Iran expresses interest in acquiring uranium enrichment technology. In a discussion of Iranian investment schemes in nuclear technology during the 1970s, Krosney notes that in 1976 Iran agreed to buy "an experimental laser system" potentially capable of enriching uranium. Iran bought four gas lasers from the US company Lischem and agreed to finance further research in this area by Lischem head Jeff Eerkens. Commenting on the sale, US Department of Energy (DOE) nuclear export division head James Kratz said, "We are reasonably confident that it is not a viable process for uranium...We checked with our technical experts and they had no problem with it."
—Richard Kessler, "Argentina's Invap to Supply Iran Fuel for Research Reactor," Nucleonics Week, 14 May 1987, p. 2; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Herbert Krosney "Chapter 2, 1975: Nuclear Dawn," Deadly Business (New York: Four Walls Eight Windows, 1993), pp. 11-30.
1976
South Africa agrees to supply $700 million of yellowcake to Iran in return for Iran helping to finance an enrichment plant in South Africa. According to the US State Department, an official with the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran confirms, despite public denial, that a secret agreement was reached for Iran to purchase uranium, which may have originated in Namibia. Independent sources are unable to verify the delivery of the material. [Note: A 1987 report on Iran's secret purchase of uranium from a mine in Namibia is likely the secret deal referred to in this entry, which apparently was continued under Khomeini. See 1979-1987 entry. Later Western intelligence reports indicate that South Africa delivered large amounts of uranium to Iran in 1988-1989. See 1988-1989 entry.]
—Leonard S. Spector with Jacqueline R. Smith, Nuclear Ambitions: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons, 1989-1990 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1990), p.205.
1976
Kraftwerk Union of West Germany wins a contract to construct nuclear plants in Iran and assigns an order for eight steam generators from Ansaldo of Italy for shipment to Iran. [Note: The contract is later cancelled by the Khomeini government, but four of the generators were paid for. Demonstrations at the Ansaldo plant halts shipment of two of the steam generators to Iran. Ansaldo sources note that neither KWU, Ansaldo, nor other subcontractors have any intention of working at the site to install or startup equipment.]
—"Italy: Referendum Approval Uncertain," Nucleonics Week, 29 October 1987, p. 13.
1976
Jeffrey Eerkens, a scientist working on classified US uranium-enrichment projects, travels to Iran to discuss funding for a specialized laser enrichment process he has developed. Before going to Iran, Eerkens requests the approval of the Energy Research and Development Administration, which objects to his visit. [Note: In 1978, Eerkens is granted a license to ship four lasers to Iran. See 1978.]
—Leonard S. Spector, Going Nuclear: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons 1986-1987 (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Company, 1987), pp. 46-47.
Mid-1976
Kraftwerk Union (KWU) of West Germany signs a contract with Iran for work on the Bushehr reactors. The Italian company Ansaldo is included in the contract as the steam generator supplier. [Note: Agreement for this sale was reached in November 1974. KWU began work on the plant in August 1975. Work was later halted on the reactors in March 1979. The order for the generators is placed with Breda Termomeccanica (later acquired by Ansaldo). The shipment of the steam generators is halted by an embargo during the Iran-Iraq War, and on 11 November 1993, Italian Customs seizes the generators. See relevant entries.]
—Nucleonics Week, 8 July 1976, pp. 4-5; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (George Allen & Unwin: London, 1982), p. 89; "Demonstrators Protest Iran Shipment," Nucleonics Week, 29 October 1987, p. 13.
May 1976
The United States supplies 226kg of depleted uranium to Iran for aircraft wing ballast.
—"US Supplied Nuclear material to Iran," 29 January 1980, in Digital National Security Archive <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
1 July 1976
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) signs an agreement with Kraftwerk Union of West Germany for the construction of the Bushehr nuclear power plant at a cost of 7.8 billion DM, 5.8 billion of which Iran has already paid. The agreement stipulates that Kraftwerk Union will construct two pressurized light water units 18km southwest of Bushehr. Both units will have outputs of 3,765MWt, or 1,296MW. The AEOI signs additional agreements with KWU for the supply of 200,000 cubic meters of pure water and the required fuel for the Iranian plant.
—"Russia Helps Build Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant," in FBIS Document FBIS-NES-94-079, 25 April 1994, p. 82.
August 1976
Talks between Iran and the United States on nuclear cooperation are suspended after disagreement on safeguards.
—"US, Iran Resume Atom Power Talks," The Washington Post, 9 August 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
October 1976
French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing establishes an agreement for Iran to purchase two French reactors immediately and six more eventually. [Note: Although Iran and France reached a preliminary agreement for two reactors in June 1974, Iran faces difficulties in negotiating acceptable financing and pricing for the reactors. According to one source, a final agreement is not reached until October 1977. A different source, however, asserts that an agreement is made in November 1974. See relevant entries.]
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 91.
1977
Iran agrees to pay 943 million French francs (approximately $180 million) for future uranium enrichment services from the Eurodif consortium's Tricastin plant. [Note: Only 350 million francs are paid before the deal is cancelled in 1979; NuclearFuel reports that the 1977 loan was for the construction of Eurodif's Georges Besse plant at Tricastin. In 1974, Iran received a loan for the construction of the plant. See relevant entries.
—"Arbitrators Favor Iran in Part of Eurodif Fight," Nuclear News, February 1991, p. 48; "France," Nucleonics Week, 28 February 1991, Vol. 32, No. 9, p. 15; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Nuclear Engineering International, April 1991, p. 8; Ann MacLachlan, "Eurodif's Balance Sheet Threatened by Iranian Problem," NuclearFuel, 10 June 1991, pp. 4-5; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
12 April 1977
The United Sates and Iran sign an agreement to exchange nuclear technology and cooperate in nuclear safety.
—New York Times, 12 April 1977, in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
2 May 1977
Jean-Pierre Foucarde, French equipment minister, arrives in Tehran to negotiate the purchase by Iran of six nuclear reactors at a value of $7 billion.
—The Washington Post, 2 May 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 May 1977
France agrees to build in Iran two 900,000kW [900MW] nuclear power generators worth $2 billion. The plants will be built in the town of Darkhovin on the Karun river, near the Iranian city of Ahvaz. France says it is ready to build eight additional nuclear plants if the United States withdraws from a deal to build eight plants for $16 billion. [Note: See 16 June 1977.]
—The Wall Street Journal, 13 May 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 May 1977
The nuclear reactors under construction in Germany for Bushehr are 30% complete.
—The Wall Street Journal, 13 May 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 June 1977
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran grants $2 billion to Framatome, Spie-Batignolles and Alsthom-Atlantic for the construction of two nuclear power plants on the Karun river banks at Darkhovin. The plant will generate 930,000KW each. [Note: See 13 May 1977.]
—The Wall Street Journal, 16 June 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
9 August 1977
The United States and Iran resume talks about multi-billion-dollar nuclear cooperation. Iran states that it has no intention of constructing a reprocessing facility.
—"US, Iran Resume Atom Power Talks," The Washington Post, 9 August 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
13 September 1977
France agrees to sell Iran two nuclear reactors and to train 350 Iranian technicians. Creusot Loire SA and its subsidiary Framatome will provide boilers and core of nuclear reactors worth $800 million. Alsthom-Atlantic will provide turbo generators worth $600 million. Spie-Batignolles SA will provide engineering work at a value of $800 million. Cogema will provide $700 of enriched uranium fuel.
—The Wall Street Journal, 13 September 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
October 1977
After a delay of more than three years, France and Iran finalize the deal for two French reactors to be built at Darkhovin, near the city of Ahvaz, in south-west Iran. Separate contracts cover the reactors, the financing terms, the fuel, and the control of spent fuel. [Note: See also June 1974, November 1974, and October 1996 entries on this agreement. The project is abandoned after the Shah is deposed. See January 1979 and March 1979 entries.]
—Nucleonics Week, 20 October 1977, pp. 13-14; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World, (George Allen & Unwin: London), 1982, p. 92.
3 October 1977
The Iranian news agency reports that Iran and Austria will cooperate in nuclear waste storing.
—The Washington Post, 3 October 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
November 1977
Iran signs a "'qualified' letter of intent" to purchase four additional 1,200MWe pressurized water reactors worth $5 billion from Kraftwerk Union (KWU) of West Germany.
—Nucleonics Week, 17 November 1977, pp. 2-3; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World, (George Allen & Unwin: London), 1982, p. 90.
8 November 1977
A US State Department memorandum suggests that President Carter discuss the proposed nuclear bilateral agreement with Iran at the upcoming meeting with the Shah.
—Cyrus Vance, "Visit of the Shah and Shahbanou," Department of State Memorandum, 8 November 1977, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
11 November 1977
Iran and Kraftwerk Union AG, a subsidiary of Siemens AG of West German, a letter of intent to build four nuclear reactors in Iran. Two of these reactors will be built near the Indus area of Isfahan, and the other two will be built between Isfahan and Lake Rezaiyyah (modern-day Lake Urmiyyah) on the Iranian-Turkish border.
—The Wall Street Journal, 11 November 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com/.
1 December 1977
The West German Cabinet gives Kraftwerk Union AG the authorization to build four nuclear reactors in Iran at price of $4.8 billion.
—The Wall Street Journal, 1 December 1977; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1978
The US Department of Energy (DOE) grants Jeffrey Eerkens a license to sell four lasers to Iran. The lasers are shipped in October 1978. Although Eerkens' application states that the lasers will be used for laboratory plasma research, they can be modified to enrich uranium. DOE approves the sale because it has doubts about the viability of the process. [Note: Eerkens visited Iran in 1976. See 1976 entry. After shipping the lasers, he reports that based on subsequent research, the design he supplied is "unworkable as a means for enriching uranium."
—Leonard S. Spector with Jacqueline R. Smith, Nuclear Ambitions: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons, 1989-1990 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1990), p. 205.
January 1978
US President Jimmy Carter and the Shah resolve the major outstanding issues involved in reaching a new bilateral agreement for nuclear cooperation. Iran agrees to accept extra safeguards beyond International Atomic Energy Agency requirements, and the United States agrees to grant Iran "most favored nation" status for reprocessing so that Iran would not be discriminated against when seeking permission to reprocess US-origin fuel. The two countries began negotiating a new agreement in 1975, as an agreement was required for the sale of light water reactors (LWRs) and fuel to Iran. [Note: The negotiations fail to reach conclusion before the Shah was overthrown in 1979.]
—Nucleonics Week, 12 January 1978, pp. 2-3; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World, (George Allen & Unwin: London), 1982, p. 88.
1 January 1978
US President Jimmy Carter and the Shah of Iran agree on a plan for Iran to purchase between six and eight light water nuclear reactors from the United States, pending approval by the US Congress.
—"Carter will meet Sadat to Discuss Talks on the Mideast; Carter will visit Sadat to Discuss Mideast Diplomacy," The Washington Post, 1 January 1978; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
10-11 July 1978
The United States and Iran initial the US-Iran nuclear agreement. The minutes of a meeting at the US embassy in Iran say that the "main problem of reprocessing has been worked out, thanks in large measure to Ambassador Sullivan's suggestions of five weeks ago." [Note: The memorandum of 20 October 1978 says this took place on 10 July while the "Country Team Minutes" of 12 July 1978 say this took place 11 July.]
—"Iran: The US-Iran Nuclear Energy Agreement," Department of State Memorandum, 20 October 1978; in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>; "Country Team Minutes," 12 July 1978; in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
12 July 1978
The United States and Iran are still negotiating details of language for the bilateral nuclear agreement between the two countries.
—"Country Team Minutes," 12 July 1978, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
23 August 1978
The US Ambassador to Iran reports in an embassy meeting that the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission is split 2-2 on the US-Iran bilateral nuclear accord and that this might attract attention to the issue before it reaches Congress. He further says that after speaking to a number of key legislators that he foresees no problems, except that this issue might shed some unfavorable light on Iran. Another embassy official says that Iran made changes to the Persian text of the bilateral nuclear agreement, and says that the government of Iran hopes to sign the accord by 10 September.
—"Country Team Minutes," 27 August 1978, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
October 1978
Facing internal criticism of the nuclear power program and financial difficulties, the Shah postpones the purchase of four additional reactors from Kraftwerk Union (KWU). Akbar Etemad, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, resigns amid allegations of mismanagement and embezzlement. Former AEOI Vice President Dr. Ahmad Sofudehnia replaces Etemad. He states that "there will be some place for atomic energy, but whether it will be 23,000MWe, I cannot say." [Note: A letter of intent for the four reactors was signed in November 1977. Work on the first two KWU reactors reportedly will continue.]
—Energy Daily, 13 October 1978, p. 1; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (George Allen & Unwin: London, 1982), p. 96; Nucleonics Week, 26 October 1978, pp. 13-14; in Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (George Allen & Unwin: London, 1982), p. 96.
11 October 1978
The Wall Street Journal reports Iran will suspend its extensive nuclear purchase program to face an increase in social spending.
—The Wall Street Journal, 11 October 1978; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
17 October 1978
A secret US Department of State telegram from the American embassy in Iran to the Secretary of State says now is not a good time to conclude bilateral nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran because the unstable political situations in Iran and a reorganization of Iranian bureaucracy has halted all proceedings. The Shah told the American ambassador, according to the telegram, that only the nuclear plants that are already under construction by the French and German companies, Bushehr and Darkhovin, will continue at this time. Because no US nuclear sales are likely to take place soon, the document says, there is no rush resolve outstanding issues in the agreement. The telegram says the situation is confused by the replacement of Dr. Etemad by Dr. Sofudehnia as head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), the absorption of the AEOI into the Ministry of Energy, the investigations of AEOI officials for corruption, and a reassessment of Iran's energy needs. [Note: See October 1978 for more on the change in control of the AEOI. See 29 June 1982, 1 September 1986, February 1987, and 9 November 1989 for additional information on France's role in the construction of Bushehr.]
—"US-Iranian Peaceful Nuclear Cooperation Agreement," Secret Telegram, 17 October 1978, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
18 October 1978
Secretary of Energy James R. Schlesinger signs a memorandum forwarding the US-Iran nuclear agreement to the President for his approval before it can be formally signed and sent to Congress for 60 days' consideration.
—"Iran: The US-Iran Nuclear Energy Agreement," Department of State Memorandum, 20 October 1978, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
20 October 1978
A confidential US State Department document says that the United States is encouraged by Iran's efforts to expand its non-oil energy base, and is hopeful that the US-Iran Nuclear Energy Agreement will be concluded soon and that American companies will be able to play a role in Iran's nuclear energy projects. The Agreement, initialed on 10 July, is to govern the export and transfer of equipment and material pertaining to Iran's nuclear energy program. A key issue in the negotiations, according to the document, was how the United States would approve of what to do with spent fuel while Iran wants "non-discriminatory treatment in this regard." The agreement was sent to the President of the United States for approval before its transmission to Congress for 60 days' consideration. The US-Iran bilateral accord is the first nuclear cooperation agreement submitted to the Congress under the Non-Proliferation Act of 1978.
—"Iran: The US-Iran Nuclear Energy Agreement," Department of State Memorandum, 20 October 1978, in Digital National Security Archive, <http://nsarchive.chadwyck.com>.
Late 1970s
The United States obtains intelligence data indicating that the Shah has set up a clandestine nuclear weapons development program. Also, according to Akbar Etemad, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran until October 1978, researchers at the Tehran Nuclear Research Center are involved in laboratory experiments that could have applications for reprocessing spent fuel.
—Leonard S. Spector, Going Nuclear: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons 1986-1987 (Cambridge: Ballinger Publishing Company, 1987), pp. 50-51.
1979
Because of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the United States stops its supply of highly enriched uranium (HEU) to Iran. Iran cancels its agreement with the Eurodif consortium, demanding full repayment of the $1 billion loan it provided for the construction of the Tricastin plan. Iran halts payments begun in 1977 for future enrichment services.
—Richard Kessler, "Argentina's Invap To Supply Iran Fuel For Research Reactor," Nucleonics Week, 14 May 1987, Vol. 28, No. 20, p. 2; Gamini Seneviratne, Nuclear Fuel, 3 October 1988, p. 6; Nuclear Engineering International, August 1990, p. 4; Nuclear News, February 1991, p. 48; Nucleonics Week, 28 February 1991, p. 15; Nuclear Engineering International, April 1991, p. 8; Ann Maclachlan, "Eurodif's Balance Sheet Threatened By Iranian Problem," Nuclear Fuel, 10 June 1991, Vol. 16, No. 12, pp. 4-5; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1979
Iran cancels a deal with the French for the Karun River nuclear power plant at Darkhovin near Ahvaz.
—"Iran To Complete Busheir Site," Mednews, 8 January 1990, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1979
Eurodif goes to the arbitration court of the International Chamber of Commerce of Paris with a complaint against the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran. The court orders a freeze on all Iranian assets in Eurodif.
—"Iranian denunciation of France over Shah's Nuclear Loan," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 3 August 1982; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1979
Approximately one-tenth of the tonnage of plant equipment for the Iranian reactor at Bushehr is shipped from West Germany before the project is halted.
—"Bushehr in The Budget," Nuclear News, October 1985, p. 76.
1979
Nucleonics Week reports that the West German government will refuse to grant an export license for components for Iran's Bushehr plant. Kraftwerk Union stops construction on
the PWRs at Bushehr in 1979 when the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomayni takes power.
—Mark Hibbs, "German Officials Say Government May Not Let Bushehr Be Finished," Nucleonics Week, 7 February 1991, pp. 15-16.
1979
The two Bushehr reactors, both 1,293MW PWRs, are nominally cancelled in 1979 when the Shah leaves Iran.
—"Iran Seeking Way to Finish Bushehr Plant But Bonn Denies Exports," Nucleonics Week, 30 October 1986, pp. 4-5.
1979
The Middle East Economic Review reports that Iran is seeking to purchase a 30MW research reactor.
—PPNN, Middle East Economic Review, 6 July 1990.
1979-1987
Iran secretly purchases uranium from the British-operated mine at Rossing in Namibia, according to The Observer of London. The paper claims that Iran owns a share of the mine run by Rio Tinto-Zinc of London. South Africa's Atomic Energy Commission says, "in the case of Iran, the NPT safeguards agreement as concluded between Iran and the [IAEA] supplies." [Note: Iran reportedly reached a secret agreement with South Africa in 1976 for the supply of uranium, and sales apparently continued in 1988-1989. See 1988-1989 entry.]
—Star (Johannesburg), 21 May 1987, p. 3; in Worldwide Report, 13 July 1987, p. 40.
January 1979
The Shah of Iran is deposed in the Islamic Revolution and Iran's Prime Minister "annuls" its reactor contract with France. [Note: See October 1977 entry on the signing of the contracts.]
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 96.
March 1979
Framatome of France, which had worked without payment since October 1978, pulls out of Iran. Kraftwerk Union recalls its Bushehr staff and lays off most of its Iranian work force.
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 96.
10 April 1979
Iran cancels the construction of two French power plants. The two power plants being built by a West German company are closer to being finished than the French plants, and are supposed to be done on time.
—Wall Street Journal, 10 April 1979, p. 5; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
11 April 1979
Fereydun Sahabi, Iran's Deputy Minister of Energy and Supervisor of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, states that the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is significantly cutting back its activities. He says that the two power stations provided by West Germany for the nuclear facility in Bushehr are half finished and construction will continue. All other nuclear power projects will be cancelled. He says no foreigners will be used in the AEOI's activities and that prospecting and extracting uranium will continue. Iran cancels the order of two nuclear stations from France, though a week earlier it was stated that this order was to be completed.
—"Iran: In Brief; Nuclear energy policy," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 11 April 1979; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
May 1979
During the Iranian Revolution, a Khomeini adviser tells energy specialist Dr. Fereydun Fesharaki, "It is your duty to build the atomic bomb for the Islamic Republican Party."
—Leonard S. Spector with Jacqueline R. Smith, Nuclear Ambitions: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons, 1989-1990 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1990), p. 208.
30 May 1979
The Washington Post reports that Iran is considering the cancellation of its four nuclear power station projects. In attempts to undo the Shah's development plans and to change the country's economic emphases, the head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) wants to end the construction of the two West German nuclear power stations that are 77% complete. The cancellation is not official yet, but seems likely, judging by statements coming from Fereydun Sahabi, the AEOI's head. Iran had planned to build 20 nuclear power stations by 1994. Two reactors under construction by the West German company Kraftwerk Union at Bushehr are 1,200MW. The two reactors under construction by France on the Karun River at Darkhovin near Ahvaz have already been cancelled. Iran has spent $3.1 billion on Bushehr, and it appears the project can only be completed with more investments from other countries. A study conducted by Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, a research fellow at the Rockefeller Foundation, states that the actual costs of the Bushehr nuclear power station are around 13.2 billion marks. He also states that Iran's initial plan of 20 reactors would have cost up to three times more than the $30 billion that Iran had thought. Mansur Ruhi, the Bushehr plant executive, says he feels the country lacks the resources and technology to run such a program, and the program should be stopped. Before the revolution in February, Iran purchased 28,000 tons of uranium that would be of little use if the nuclear program ends. Iranian officials state, however, that they will continue uranium exploration in Iran, as it is something they will be able to market abroad.
—William Branigin, "Iran Set to Scrap $34 Billion Worth of Civilian Projects," The Washington Post, 30 May 1979, p. A22; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
8 June 1979
Kraftwerk Union, the West German company building the nuclear reactors in Bushehr, halts work because Iran has failed to pay $450 million.
—John M Geddes, New York Times, 8 June 1979, p. 4; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
12 June 1979
Fereydun Sahabi, head of the AEOI, says that the contracts for construction of nuclear power plants are being reviewed. Because the Iranian government is refusing to extend work permits to the 200 Germans working on the nuclear power station in Bushehr past 21 June, plans are made to hand the work over to the Iranians. This development makes it unclear whether construction will be able to continue. Completing the reactor is now estimated to cost around 13,000,000 instead of 8,000,000 DM.
—"Iran, W German Nuclear Power Contract," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 12 June 1979; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
25 June 1979
The German company Kraftwerk Union (KWU) will hand the Bushehr nuclear power plant over to the Iranians. The project is worth about $5 billion. It is not finished, but one of the two reactors is reportedly 85% complete.
—"The About-Face In Iran On Nuclear Power Plants," Business Week, 25 June 1979, p. 38; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
10 July 1979
According to Abbas Taj, Iran's Minister of Energy, work is halted at both the Bushehr and Ahvaz nuclear power plants due to the inability to pay the workers.
—"Iran: In Brief; Work Halted On Nuclear Power Stations," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 10 July 1979; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
19 July 1979
Fereydun Sahabi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Deputy Energy Minister, says that construction will end completely at the Ahvaz nuclear power plant and that government has not yet decided whether to continue work at the Bushehr plant. Sahabi says that if Iran decides to end all nuclear activities, all agreements having to do with building nuclear plants and supplying fuel will be cancelled. He also says that it is crucial for the country to acquire more knowledge in the nuclear energy field and to achieve self-sufficiency.
—"Iran's Reconsideration of Nuclear Power Policy," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 19 July 1979; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
31 July 1979
The German Siemens subsidiary Kraftwerk Union (KWU) decides to formally end its contract with Iran to build the Bushehr nuclear power plant. Iran owes the company $450 million. If Iran pays that amount, KWU says it may consider resuming construction.
—New York Times, 1 August 1979, p. 3; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; "German Concern Ends A-Contract," Facts on File World News Digest, 3 August 1979, p. 586 E2; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
August 1979
Kraftwerk Union (KWU) formally terminates the Bushehr reactor projects. Most reports say that the first reactor is 75-85% complete, the second reactor is 45-70% complete, and 90% of the parts have been shipped. Iran has spent 5.5 billion DM on the project. One report, however, quotes Reza Amrollahi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), as saying that only one-tenth of the total tonnage of equipment has been shipped; another says that 20,000 tons of equipment have been sent, with 7000 tons remaining. [Note: The 11 August 1979 entry refers to Fereidun Sahabi as head of the AEOI.]
—Daniel Poneman, Nuclear Power in the Developing World (London: George Allen & Unwin, 1982), p. 92; Nuclear News, October 1985, p. 76; Richard Kessler, "Argentina Has Denied That It Is Studying A Proposal From Iran," Nucleonics Week, 1 May 1986, Vol. 27, No. 18, p. 7; Mark Hibbs And Richard Kessler, "Alfonsin Oks Iran Nuclear Deals For Argentine Firms," Nucleonics Week, 12 November 1987, Vol. 28, No. 46, p. 6-7; Keyhan (London), 19 July 1990, p.4; in Nuclear Developments, 20 September 1990, pp. 33-34; Mark Hibbs, "Negotiating With USSR For Supply Of 'Several' PWRs," Nucleonics Week, 25 October 1990, Vol. 31, No. 43, pp. 1-2; IRNA (Tehran), 23 September 1990 (in Nuclear Developments, 25 October 1990, p. 37); IRNA (Tehran), 4 March 1991 (in Nuclear Developments, 19 March 1991), pp. 21-22.
11 August 1979
Fereydun Sahabi, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, estimates the cost to Iran for the unfinished nuclear reactor in Bushehr to be as much as 5.877 billion DM. Iran demands to receive $1 billion from West Germany to make up for the losses incurred by the unfinished nuclear power plant in Bushehr. [Note: The August 1979 entry refers to Reza Amrollahi as head of the AEOI.]
—"Iran: In Brief; Cost Of Cancellation Of Bushehr Nuclear Project," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 13 August 1979; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; New York Times, 11 August 1979, p. 4; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
24 October 1979
A French court rules Iran cannot sell its 10% stake in Eurodif, which enriches uranium. The court also rules that repayment of a $1 billion loan made by Iran to Eurodif before the revolution be suspended.
—"Nuclear Stake Frozen," Facts on File News Digest, 31 December 1979, p. 976 E2; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
15 November 1979
The Washington Post reports that Iran is considering the cancellation of four nuclear power projects by West Germany.
—Jonathan C. Randal, "Iranian Aide Says Women May Be Freed; Iranian Official Says Seven U.S. Women May Be Released; Shift in Attitude Follows Reports of Maltreatment," Washington Post, 15 November 1979, p. A1; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
Post-1979
After the Iranian revolution in 1979, Iran refuses to accept shipment of Eerkens' lasers. The sale was approved by the US government. [Note: See 1976 entry.]
—Herbert Krosney "Chapter 2; 1975: Nuclear Dawn," Deadly Business (New York: Four Walls Eight)
1980
Iran decides to restart the construction of its nuclear reactors.
—"Iran Seeking Way to Finish Bushehr Plant But Bonn Denies Exports," Nucleonics Week, 30 October 1986, pp. 4-5.
1980
Iran and the German company Kraftwerk Union (KWU) begin litigation in Geneva over the compensation of losses both sides claim to have incurred due to KWU's withdrawal from the nuclear power project in Bushehr.
—Kevin Done, "German Group Nears Deal in Iranian Power Station Dispute," Financial Times (London), 31 March 1982, p. 20; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1980-1983
Iran asks for India's help in completing the Bushehr reactor after West Germany halts work on the project in 1980.
—Nuclear News Buyers Guide, March 1983, pp. 19-24.
19 February 1980
Andre Giraud, French Industry Minister, says that France will not refund Iran after its withdrawal from the Eurodif consortium.
—New York Times, 19 February 1980; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
20 February 1980
Mr. Qutbzadeh, Iran's foreign minister, says that Iran is withdrawing from Eurodif and expects to receive a refund of the $1 billion that the former regime put in the Eurodif consortium.
—The Washington Post, 20 February 1980; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
March 1980
A US report quotes an intelligence source who says that Iran's interest in new smaller reactors leads him to believe that it wants to develop nuclear weapons.
—Leonard S. Spector with Jacqueline R. Smith, Nuclear Ambitions: The Spread of Nuclear Weapons, 1989-1990 (Boulder: Westview Press, 1990), p. 208.
12 June 1980
Ali Reza Nobari, the newly appointed Governor of the Iranian central bank, is leading a delegation to France to resolve differences between the two governments over refunding Iran the $1 billion it has contributed to the Eurodif project.
—"Delegation in France to Discuss the Eurodif project," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 12 June 1980; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
September 1980
West Germany halts construction on Iran's Bushehr PWR, and has refused to resume work on the project despite Iran's request.
—Charles Hoots, "Iran And France Close To End Of Nuclear Dispute, But Not Yet," Nucleonics Week, 18 July 1991, pp. 5-6.
1981
Iran seeks 2.1 billion DM in compensation from the German Kraftwerk Union for withdrawing from the nuclear power project in Bushehr. The company in turn seeks 1.8 billion DM for the machinery it has produced but has never delivered because of the cancellation of the contracts.
—Kevin Done, "German Group Nears Deal in Iranian Power Station Dispute," Financial Times (London), 31 March 1982, p. 20; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
2 June 1981
Shiraz Radio quotes the Iranian Prime Minister as saying that nuclear power stations are not economical and that nuclear activity will be restricted to research.
—"Iran and nuclear power," the British Broadcasting Corporation, 2 June 1981; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
7 August 1981
Iran refuses to let 62 French nationals leave Iran following the refusal of French authorities to refund Iran for its contribution in Eurodif project. There are actually 110 French nationals who have been denied exit of Iran.
—"Iran Won't Allow 62 French Citizens to Leave the Country," New York Times, 7 August 1981; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
21 December 1981
Reza Amrollahi, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, announces that huge uranium deposits have been discovered in four locations in Iran.
—"Discovery of Uranium," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 21 December 1981; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1982
The International Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Court rules on Iranian demands to have the components of the nuclear reactors delivered.
—"Iran Seeking Way to Finish Bushehr Plant But Bonn Denies Exports," Nucleonics Week, 30 October 1986, pp. 4-5.
1982
Kraftwerk Union (KWU) engineers are back at the Bushehr site.
—Ann Maclachlan, "Iran Seeking Way To Finish Bushehr Plant But Bonn Denies Exports," Nucleonics Week, 30 October 1986, Vol. 27, No. 44, pp. 4-5; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
18 March 1982
The head of Iran's Nuclear Technology Center in Isfahan says that it will resume importing nuclear technology.
—"Iran to Restudy A-Power," New York Times, 18 March 1982, p. A7; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
27 March 1982
Iranian radio broadcasts a statement by the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran that says an agreement has been reached between Iran and the German company Kraftwerk Union (KWU). KWU will "deliver, at European ports, all [outstanding] equipment and ancillaries, and to pay for packing and transport; to pay DM 15,000,000 (about $3,400,000) to cover the cost of transport to Iran, to take "upon itself the task of solving its problems with the German state insurance," to give Iran half the fuel at one time, and to "pay all legal costs....If the Majlis [parliament] approved, the power station's No. 1 set would be completed; 70% of the station had already been completed."
—"Iran; Nuclear Power Agreement with FRG Firm," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 6 April 1982; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
30 March 1982
The BBC Summary of World Broadcasts reports that Iran's nuclear program consists of three phases: designing and manufacturing a subcritical reactor, a reactor, and a nuclear power station.
—"Iranian Nuclear Programme," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 30 March 1982; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
31 March 1982
The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the Federal Republic of Germany are involved in arbitration for claims of losses from both sides. A preliminary agreement seems to have been reached that could bring about the resumption of construction of one of the two 1,300MW reactors in Bushehr by the Kraftwerk Union (KWU). This agreement still awaits approval from the relevant Iranian government bodies. The KWU says that one of the two reactors was almost 70% complete before the Islamic Revolution broke out. Klaus Barthelt, the CEO of KWU, speculates that the plant in Bushehr has most likely been damaged by the severe climate of the region.
—Kevin Done, "German Group Nears Deal in Iranian Power Station Dispute," Financial Times (London), 31 March 1982, p. 20; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
11 June 1982
Iran wants the investments it made in 1975 to the nuclear power consortium Eurodif returned from the French Atomic Energy Commission. French Judge Marcel Caratini says he is incapable of ruling on this issue, but says he rejects Eurodif's claim to $739.4 million in damages because Iran withdrew from the consortium.
—Wall Street Journal, 11 June 1982, p. 28; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
16 June 1982
Iran agrees to have Kraftwerk Union, the German company that began construction on the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, to complete at least one of the two 1,200MW reactors at the site. To explain the change from Ayatollah Khomayni's previous anti-nuclear policies, Iran states that the reason for pursuing nuclear technology is more to gain "native expertise" rather than for energy purposes, since Iran holds "18 percent of the world's gas reserves." [Note: In later years, Iranian officials repeatedly claim Iran needs nuclear reactors for energy.]
—Richard Johns, "Middle East's Uneven Nuclear Progress," Financial Times (London), 16 June 1982, p. 28; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
29 June 1982
Tehran radio reports that the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has said that the French court decision regarding a dispute of frozen investments will help Iran with the Bushehr nuclear project. Thirty-five thousand tons of equipment and half of the required amount of fuel for the reactors will be given to Iran. The Majlis [Iranian Parliament] must decide whether to accept this offer and to continue with the project, the report says.
—"Iranian Nuclear Power Project," BBC World Summary of Broadcasts, 6 July 1982; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
9 September 1982
The Reagan administration announces that it plans to tighten export controls. The administration names 63 countries to which the transfer of nuclear technology will be put under more scrutiny. Iran is on this list, and sources say that Iran and a few other countries have been included on the list only because of their instability.
—Milton R. Benjamin, "Administration Will List 63 Countries Subject to Nuclear Export Restrictions," The Washington Post, 9 September 1982, p. A4; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1 October 1982
Indian radio reports that India will send a group of nuclear engineers and scientists to Iran in November. They will inspect the Bushehr nuclear power plant to study the problems.
—"Other Reports; Indian Team to Study Iran's Nuclear Power Problems," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 1 October 1982; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
17 October 1982
The Islamic Republic News Agency reports that work is commencing on the construction of a nuclear power plant. The work is divided into three phases. [Note: See 16 March 1982.] A group of Iranian nuclear scientists at the Nuclear Technology Center in Isfahan is conducting research that should be done in two years. The government is providing the resources and equipment. The second phase consists of building a test reactor, and the third phase consists of building the power plant. Dr. Saidi, the head of the Nuclear Technology Center, says that Iran is working towards the provision of uranium by using the country's resources. He also says that the Nuclear Technology Center was built by a French company for 300,000 million Rials, but that the company was "expropriated" after the Islamic Revolution.
—"Iran; Nuclear Power Project," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 26 October 1982; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
1984
Iran opens a nuclear research center at Isfahan (32.40 N, 51.40 E) with the assistance of China. The site is large with room for expansion. According to European intelligence sources, the site has many buildings, some underground. The site is 4km outside Isfahan, between Shahrida and Fulashans.
—Nuclear Engineering International, December 1984, p. 13; Akbar Etemad, "Iran," in European Non-proliferation Policy (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1987), Harald Muller, ed., p. 9; "Proliferation: Pulling a Bomb Apart," The Economist, 14 March 1992, vol. 322, no. 7750, p. 46.
1984
Iran may have obtained from Pakistan the knowledge of how to melt uranium. This information is said to have been diverted from Uranit GmbH of Germany to Pakistan via Switzerland.
—Mark Hibbs, "Agencies Trace Some Iraqi Urenco Know-How To Pakistan Re-Export," Nucleonics Week, 28 November 1991, Vol. 32, No. 48, p. 1; Neel Patri, "India Says Research Reactor Sale To Iran Is In Preliminary Stages," Nucleonics Week, 28 November 1991, Vol. 32, No. 48, p. 8; Mark Hibbs, "Nuclear Commerce At Issues Tehran Leans Westward," Nuclear Fuel, 9 December 1991, Vol. 16, No. 25, pp. 11-12.
1984
China may supply Iran with a research reactor. China has already supplied Iran with a small calutron similar those the Iraqis were using to secretly enrich uranium. There are reports that Pakistani and Chinese experts have set up uranium enrichment centrifuges at Moallem Kalayeh in Iran.
—"Dimona Et Al," The Economist, 14 March 1992, p. 46.
1984
Kraftwerk Union (KWU) of the West Germany indicates that it will complete Iran's Bushehr nuclear plant only if the Iran-Iraq War ends. This comment follows a survey of the plant by KWU. Iran is now demanding that the company complete the plant, since the war is over.
—"Iran Is Demanding That Kwu Finish The Bushehr Plant," Nuclear News, November 1990, p. 53
Early 1984
Kraftwerk Union (KWU) submits a new bid for work on Bushehr and negotiations begin. KWU spokesman Wolfgang Breyer says the delivery of components is continuing as agreed in the arbitration agreement of 1982. He says most of the 35,000 metric tons of equipment has been shipped and only about 7,000 metric tons of trigger-list components are affected by the September 1984 export license expiration. According to Reza Amrollahi, president of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), the Bushehr components in storage are the pressure vessel, pressurizers, main coolant pumps and other major NSSS [Nuclear Steam Supply System] items. A German official says that the equivalent of a full core of fuel is in storage in West Germany. Breyer confirms that at AEOI's request, KWU is negotiating with companies from Argentina and Spain for the completion of Bushehr-1 by an international consortium. The Spanish companies are assumed to include those working on the Trillo plant, a 1,157MW KWU PWR under construction near Madrid. The Argentinean company commissioned to work on Bushehr, Empresa Nuclear Argentina de Centrales Electricas (ENACE), a subsidiary of Commission Nuclear Energy Argentina (CNEA), operates a KWU heavy water reactor and is building another. [Note: For additional information on ENACE, see also December 1986, 3 December 1986, April 1987, May 1987, and 12 May 1987.]
—"Iran Seeking Way to Finish Bushehr Plant But Bonn Denies Exports," Neuclonics Week, 30 October 1986, pp. 4-5.
1984-1986
Saudi Arabia works on plans for defending against the effects of nuclear weapons. Low- cost methods are developed for protection against fusion neutrons. Dr. Sumir Sahin of Turkey is involved in those efforts, and he is also involved in Saudi Arabia's nuclear cooperation with Taiwan.
—Sumer Sahin and Anil Kumar, "The Effect of the Spectrum Softening Within the Enhanced Radiation Warhead (ERW) on the Biological Dose," Atomkernenergie Kerntechnik, 1986, Vol. 45, pp. 117-121; T.A. Al-Kusayer, "Assessment of the Radiation Protection Capability of Desert Sand Against Fusion Neutrons," Atomkernenergie Kerntechnik, 1986, Vol. 49, pp. 209-211; A.A. Hasan, S. Sahin, C. Chung, "Yields of Short-Lived Fission Products in 235U," Transactions of the American Nuclear Society, 1985, Vol. 49, pp. 209-211; A.A. Hasan, S. Sahin, C. Chung, "Measurement of the Short Lived Cumulative Fission Yield in U-235," Radiation Effects, 1986, Vol. 93, pp. 193-196.
February-May 1984
A team of 44 German engineers returns to Iran to do a feasibility study on completing the Bushehr reactors.
—Dominique Leglu, Liberation (Paris), 27 April 1984, p. 23.
24 March 1984
Iraq attacks the Bushehr nuclear power plant. [Note: For additional Iraqi attacks on Bushehr, see 12 February 1985, 4 March 1985, 5 March 1985, 12 July 1986, 17 November 1987, 19 November 1987, and 19 July 1988.]
—Anthony H. Cordesman, "Iran and Nuclear Weapons: A Working Draft," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000; "Iran Atomic Energy Agency Head Goes to Bushehr," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 24 June 1989; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
April 1984
Jane's Defence Weekly cites reports from West German intelligence that Iran may have a nuclear bomb within two years. According to a French report, "very enriched uranium" from Pakistan can contribute to this effort. The Germans leaked this news in the first public Western intelligence report of a post-revolutionary nuclear weapons program in Iran.
—Dominique Leglu, Liberation (Paris), 29 April 1984, p. 23; Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 43.
Mid-Late 1984
Iran asks Germany to complete the Bushehr reactors.
—Nuclear Engineering International, November 1985, p. 4.
November 1984
Swedpower of Sweden is asked to evaluate Kraftwerk Union's proposal on completing Bushehr; Swedpower refuses the offer. [Note: See 4 December 1984.]
—Ny Dag (Stockholm), 8 November 1984, p. 8; in Worldwide Report, 4 December 1984, p. 35.
4 December 1984
Ny Dag reports that Iran contacted Sweden's Swedpower to request help in evaluating a proposal presented by Kraftwerk Union (KWU) of West Germany for the completion of two nuclear plants in Bushehr in southern Iran. After discussion with the Swedish Industry Ministry, Swedpower is forced to reject the Iranian proposal. A Kraftwerk Union spokesman says KWU considers it technically impossible for Iran to build a nuclear bomb. [Note: See November 1984 entry.]
—"Swedish Firm Denies Aid in Recommencing Nuclear Plant Work" World Net Report, 4 December 1984, p. 35; Ny Dag (Stockholm), 8 November 1984, p. 8.
Mid-1980s
An estimated 15,000-17,000 Iranian students are sent abroad for nuclear-related training. Some return to teach at Sharif Technical University, which is also established at this time "to serve as a pool of trained technicians for the nuclear weapons program."
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 43.
1985
China supplies Iran with a subcritical research facility, also referred to as a "training reactor," for the Isfahan nuclear research center. [Note: See 1984 entry on Isfahan. In July 1991, US officials indicate that they are not concerned about China's construction of the facility.]
—Mark Hibbs And Neel Patri, "U.S. To Ask New Delhi To Back Off On Research Reactor Offer To Iran," Nucleonics Week, 21 November 1991, Vol. 32, No. 47, pp. 2-3; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; "Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program: Iranian Procurement Fronts," Mednews, 8 June 1992, p. 3.
1985
The regime in Iran decides to restart its nuclear program, but on a smaller scale than the program begun by the Shah.
—Al-Watan (Kuwait), 13 June 1988, p. 1; in Nuclear Developments, 13 July 1988, p. 19.
12 February 1985
Iraq attacks the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
—Anthony H. Cordesman, "Iran and Nuclear Weapons: A Working Draft," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000; "Iran Atomic Energy Agency Head Goes to Bushehr," BBC, 24 June 1989, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
March 1985
Iran discovers "high-quality uranium" in the Saghand region of the Yazd province after "several years of exploratory work." Approximately 5,000 tons of uranium are said to be located at the site.
—Nuclear News, March 1985, pp. 117-118.
1 March 1985
Nuclear News reports that Iran has stopped construction work on nuclear plants being built by West German and French companies.
—"The Iranian Nuclear Energy Establishment," Nuclear News, March 1985, pp. 117-118.
4 March 1985
Iraq attacks the Bushehr nuclear power plant. [Note: See also 5 March 1985; these entries may refer to the same attack.]
—Anthony H. Cordesman, "Iran and Nuclear Weapons: A Working Draft," Center for Strategic and International Studies, 7 February 2000.
5 March 1985
Iraq attacks the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
—"Iran Atomic Energy Agency Head Goes to Bushehr," BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, 24 June 1989, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
September 1985
The foreign ministers of Iran, Syria, and Libya say that their countries should develop nuclear weapons to counter the Israeli nuclear threat.
—Haaretz (Tel Aviv), 9 September 1985; in Mati Peled, Worldwide Report, 9 January 1986, pp. 61-63.
1 October 1985
A team from Kraftwerk Union visits Bushehr to assess the feasibility of completing at least one of the 1,300MW pressurized water reactor plants. West Germany is reluctant to complete the project as long as the Iran-Iraq War continues, since Bushehr has already been the target of an attack.
—"Bushehr in The Budget," Nuclear News October 1985, p. 76.
25 October 1985
The Chinese Foreign Ministry says there is "no relationship of cooperation between China and Iran," and "as for South Africa, the position of the government is known to all." The statement was issued in reaction to US Senator Alan Cranston's claims that China had assisted those countries in the development of nuclear weapons. Last week, China also denied that it was allowing Pakistan to test an atomic bomb in a remote province. Cranston made these allegations when referring to the US-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement signed in July of 1985. The Ministry said that all cooperation between China and the United States, France, West Germany, Brazil, and Japan was for peaceful purposes. The US State Department claims that China has made no promises to Iran. China denies that there is any nuclear cooperation between the countries. The State Department says Iran visits many countries to discuss nuclear trade.
—Robert Thomson, "China denies nuclear weapons allegations," The Financial Times, 25 October 1985, p. 4; Richard Kessler, "Argentine Officials Deny Any Purchases Of Chinese Heavy Water," Nucleonics Week, 31 October 1985, Vol. 26, No. 44, p. 5; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Fujjian Rigao (Fuzhou), 14 November 1985, p. 4.
November 1985
The Iranian government runs an advertisement in the foreign edition of Kayhan inviting Iranian nuclear scientists living abroad to attend a conference in March 1986. The government offers to pay all expenses for the scientists.
—Kenneth R. Timmerman, Weapons of Mass Destruction: The Cases of Iran, Syria and Libya (Los Angeles: Simon Wiesenthal Center, 1992), p. 41.
1 November 1985
Iran signs an agreement with an unnamed foreign contractor for the construction of a water desalination plant to provide fresh water for use in nuclear plants. The Islamic Republic News Agency on 28 August 1985 reported that this will enable Iran to continue construction on the Bushehr plant which had been interrupted by the revolution in 1979. Kraftwerk Union (KWU) of West Germany was asked in 1984 to resume construction of the Bushehr plant, but it agreed only to carry out a survey to see whether resumption of the work was possible after such a long break. KWU said it would not resume construction until after the Iran-Iraq War ended.
—"Iran Pushes on With Nuclear Power Plant" Nuclear Engineering International, November 1985, p. 4.
December 1985
Argentina and Iran sign a nuclear cooperation agreement in which Argentina agrees to supply Iran with 20% enriched uranium (HEU). According to a Brazilian publication, Argentina has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency as one of the countries that may sell enriched uranium to Iran. Argentina's nonproliferation directive of 1985 "leaves the door open" for the sale of HEU and "certain uranium enrichment technologies."
—Jornal do Brasil (Rio de Janiero), 14 June 1987, p. 21; in Worldwide Report, 18 August 1987, pp. 62-63; Richard Kessler, "Argentina To Enforce Curbs On Nuclear Trade With Iran," Nucleonics Week, 19 March 1987, Vol. 28, No. 12, p. 12; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
Mid-1980s
China and Iran sign a secret nuclear cooperation agreement sometime after 1985, according to European officials. [Note: Under the agreement, China trains engineers from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and supplies nuclear equipment and information on facility design. See 1988-1991 entry.]
—Mark Hibbs, Nucleonics Week, 2 May 1991, pp. 17-18; Mark Hibbs and Neel Patri, "U.S. To Ask New Delhi To Back Off On Research Reactor Offer To Iran," Nucleonics Week, 21 November 1991, Vol. 32, No. 47, pp. 2-3; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>; Mark Hibbs, Neel Patri, And Neal Sandler, "U.S., Europe Doubt Israeli Claim Of Iranian Nuclear Weapons Effort," NuclearFuel, 25 November 1991, Vol. 16, No. 24, pp. 8-9; in Lexis-Nexis, <http://www.lexis-nexis.com>.
Mid-1980s-Early 1990s
Iran and North Korea begin cooperating on nuclear issues "at a very low level" in the mid-1980s. In the early 1990s, reports surface that the two countries have cooperated in nuclear weapons development. North Korea has assisted Iran in uranium exploration and mining. US Under Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz says North Korea has no reason to reprocess plutonium, and should accept International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, as required under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
—Joseph S. Bermudez Jr,. "North Korea's Nuclear Programme," Jane's Intelligence Review, September 1991, pp. 404-411.
 |
| |
Updated August 2005 |
|
|
