Why West is sensitive on Arak heavy water complex?

The continued P5+1 objection to Arak heavy water complex have origins on Western reluctance to granting Iran right to nuclear program.

News from Genève indicated that Western side had come to discord over Arak heavy water complex with Iran’s negotiation team. They either are reluctant to recognize Iran’s rights to nuclear program or they do not favor a deal with Iran.

Reportedly, Iran’s enrichment right is no longer an issue, and now the debate is over Arak heavy water complex. The story that Iran’s right to enrichment has been recognized cannot be independently verified, but what is certain, is that the West has mounted significant objections on Arak heavy water complex. The question is that why they are so sensitive on the complex? Why would not Iran have heavy water project? The West mounted pretexts that a by-product of operation of the heavy water complex is production of Plutonium-239, which can find applications in the military.

The Plutonium production is associated with a process which could not be unnoticed by the IAEA inspectors. Iran has already given the permission for the Agency to carry out inspection on the Arak heavy water complex, thus signaling that it has no qualms over supervision by international institutions.

Arak heavy water complex is intended to be used as a research reactor plant to produce radioisotopes with medical applications, with products which help Iranian patients and academic research centers. All the Western objections are mounted on a product which is totally a by-product.

Plutonium-239 has applications similar to that of Uranium-235 in atomic weapons technology. Meanwhile, Western objections would find relevancy if Iran eschewed allowing inspection by the IAEA on this site. Iran’s act ruled out the possibility of mounting further objections.

Furthermore, the power plant has not yet been installed and operated. So, Iran effectively denied any pretext to the other side. In any case, Iran would not need permission by others to keep Arak heavy water complex operating. What is required by the NTP framework has been carried out by Iran and the Agency would have been allowed to sufficiently inspect the complex. Beyond that, Iran would not be obliged to take on additional duties. Nor it would accept limited rights.

Iran has taken into considerations its national interests, researchers who have rights to scientific progress; patients who have right to treatment; and a nation who have rights to independence and advancement, in building the complex. This complex is a national capital and it should not be forfeited in such an easy manner.

The Zionist lobbies has embarked on significant level of propaganda against Arak heavy water complex in recent months, especially when the complex was completed, including that it should be immediately air-raided, since if it is raided after operation, it would be the source of powerful deadly radiations in the region.

All Iran’s nuclear complexes have the same feature and their being attacked would lead to an environmental disaster. Arak is not the only site to be so.

Unable, at least on their own, to mount a military campaign against Iran and know that if they did, it would cost for them at least their two great cities and Dimona power plant; neither David’s Sling nor Iron Dome would do anything for their defense. Perhaps Zionist lobbies seek to deprive Iran of Arak heavy water complex, and we hope they would not succeed.