Ali Akbar Salehi thanks US for the weapons-grade uranium

Iran's Salehi: The Issue Between the U.S. and Iran Is the Lack of Trust


In an op-ed in the {Washington Post} on the eve of Iran nuclear negotiations beginning April 14, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi articulates what he thinks the issue is between the United States and Iran, and, along the way, provides some history that few Americans are likely familiar with. 



The Tehran Research Reactor was provided by the United States 45 years ago, along with weapons-grade enriched uranium to fuel it, and not long afterwards, the United States agreed to help Iran set up its own fuel cycle capability. 



"The U.S. argument was that nuclear power would provide for the growing needs of our economy and free our remaining oil reserves for export or conversion to petrochemicals."


Then, the Iranian Revolution occurred, and everything fell apart, Salehi writes. In reality, it wasn't because Iran had changed, but because the United States changed with the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. With Kennedy's death, the American commitment to improving the welfare of the peoples of all nations died with him.


After the Iranian Revolution, the United States cut off fuel supplies to the Tehran reactor, and in order to obtain fuel from other sources to keep it operating, it had to be modified to operate on 20% enriched fuel. 



"The Tehran Research Reactor still operates, supplying isotopes used in the medical treatment of 800,000 of my fellow Iranians every year." 



In 2009, Iran put forward a proposal to the International Atomic Energy Agency to obtain more fuel for the reactor, as its existing fuel supply was about to run out. In 2010, the United States proposed that Iran exchange its stockpile of low-enriched uranium for fuel for the reactor (which the Obama Administration expected would be rejected, though this is not stated by Salehi). 


When Iran agreed to the proposal, the United States reacted by seeking tighter sanctions at the UN, sabotaging its own proposal!


"Again, we did what every government is obliged to do: protect and ensure the well-being of our citizens. Thanks to the grace of God and the hard work of our committed and growing cadre of scientists, we managed to do something we had never done before: enrich uranium to the needed 20%, and mold it into fuel plates for the reactor. 


We have never failed when faced with no option but to provide for our own needs." Salehi adds that all relationships have to be based on trust and "The example of the Tehran Research Reactor vividly illustrates the key issue between Iran and the United States: lack of trust."


Salehi concludes the op-ed by reiterating Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's {fatwa} against seeking weapons of mass destruction, and also Iran's desire to be treated as an equal at the negotiating table. 


"In the upcoming talks," he concludes, "we hope that all sides will return to the negotiating table as equals with mutual respect; that all sides will be committed to comprehensive, long-term dialogue aimed at resolving all parties outstanding concerns; and, most important, that all sides make genuine efforts to reestablish confidence and trust."