Iran is seeking Russia’s help to boost its nuclear program, US intelligence officials believe, as Tehran seeks a backup plan in case a lasting nuclear deal with world powers fails to materialize. The information suggests that Iran has asked Russia for help in acquiring additional nuclear materials and making nuclear fuel, sources briefed on the matter said. The fuel could help Iran power its nuclear reactors and could potentially further shorten Iran’s so-called “explosion time” to build a nuclear weapon.
Experts pointed out to CNN, however, that the risk of nuclear proliferation varies depending on the reactor for which the fuel is used. And it’s also unclear whether Russia has agreed to help — the Kremlin has long been outwardly opposed to Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon. But the Iranian proposal came amid an expanding partnership between Iran and Russia that in recent months has included Iran sending drones and other equipment to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine and Moscow potentially advising Tehran on how to suppresses a protest movement sweeping Iran. , US officials said. Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and that it has formally halted its weapons program, but U.S. officials have said Iran’s uranium enrichment activities have far exceeded the parameters of the 2015 nuclear deal and that the time needed for Iran to produce enough fissile material for a nuclear weapon has been reduced to just months. In June, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned lawmakers that Iran’s nuclear program is galloping forward… The longer this goes on, the more the time to fission is getting shorter… now, according to public reports, it’s down to a few months And if this continues, it will reach a few weeks.” The Biden administration is watching with concern any new areas of cooperation between Iran and Russia. Any covert Russian aid to Iran that could boost Iran’s efforts to develop a nuclear weapon would also mark a major shift in Russian policy, given Russia’s membership of the P5+1 group of countries involved in nuclear deterrence negotiations program of Iran. “As we’ve said, the JCPOA is not on the agenda,” National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson told CNN, referring to the official name for the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. “We are working with partners to expose the growing ties between Iran and Russia — and hold them accountable. We will be steadfast in addressing any cooperation that would run counter to our nonproliferation goals.” The Iranian mission to the UN and the Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to requests for comment. Correction: An earlier version of this story has been updated to clarify the description of Iran’s nuclear program. Read the full story here.