By IRNA,
London : There is nothing in the recent breakthroughs by Iranian nuclear scientists to indicate a move in the country’s programme toward military rather than civilian uses of nuclear energy, a UK-based analyst of American studies said.
Scott Lucas, from the University of Birmingham in central England, told IRNA on Saturday that Iran’s nuclear program should be discussed through dialogue and with international bodies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Referring to the recent outreach of America to Iran, Lucas said US President Barack Obama and some of his advisors are very serious in dealing with Iran despite criticisms and pressures.
“They (Obama and advisors) say to critics that we need to be able to work with Iran.
This is a very important change in the US foreign policy.”
Lucas earlier told IRNA the Bush administration often used the nuclear issue as a “pawn in a wider chess match” to keep pressure on Iran.
“But with Obama taking over at the White House I am cautiously optimistic there is engagement and interest in finding a diplomatic way forward not just on Iran’s nuclear program but also on wider issues.”
Lucas said the important reason for the change of US foreign policy regarding Iran could be the failure of the war on terror in Afghanistan.
Asked about the recent meeting of the Group 5+1 in London, he said Britain, France and Germany for years have been asking America to go into direct talks with Iran.
“So I think they will be very pleased by this. I am very positive about the nuclear issue because they imposed no pre-conditions for Iran talks,” he said.
Referring to the recent Iranian breakthroughs in the nuclear arena, Lucas highlighted the progress at the Bushehr nuclear power plant with “the packaging of fuel and making it ready to be put inside the reactor”.
“The second achievement was the testing of two new types of centrifuges with a capacity several times greater than Iran’s existing equipment,” he said, adding that there is nothing in the recent breakthroughs by Iranian nuclear scientists to indicate a move toward military applications of the nuclear power.