Iran Having Trouble Finding Someone To Flip The “On” Switch

I’m sure the Iranian Minister of Whatever will soon announce that Iran has completely cured its Stuxnet problem.

But that announcement will have to wait, because Iran is too busy right now unloading nuclear fuel rods from the Bushehr nuclear reactor, even though the reactor was supposed to go live this month (after numerous delays).

As reported by The New York Times:

Iran told atomic inspectors this week that it had run into a serious problem at a newly completed nuclear reactor that was supposed to start feeding electricity into the national grid this month, raising questions about whether the trouble was sabotage, a startup problem, or possibly the beginning of the project’s end.

In a report on Friday, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran told inspectors on Wednesday that it was planning to unload nuclear fuel from its Bushehr reactor — the sign of a major upset. For years, Tehran has hailed the reactor as a showcase of its peaceful nuclear intentions and its imminent startup as a sign of quickening progress.

But nuclear experts said the giant reactor, Iran’s first nuclear power plant, now threatens to become a major embarrassment, as engineers remove 163 fuel rods from its core.

Iran gave no reason for the unexpected fuel unloading, but it has previously admitted that the Stuxnet computer worm infected the Bushehr reactor. On Friday, computer experts debated whether Stuxnet was responsible for the surprising development.

You see, that’s the problem.  Because of the Stuxnet infection — whatever its real damage — the Iranians have to be concerned about flipping the “on” switch.  Because they can’t be sure.

On September 28, 2010, I asked this question:

“Who wants to be the one to flip the “on” switch at an Iranian nuclear facility now?”

Apparently, no one.

——————————————-
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube
Visit the Legal Insurrection Shop on CafePress!

Tags: Iran

CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY