The Iranians, long known for advocating the use of the oil weapon, are now dangling the nuclear carrot in front of their neighbors in Turkey. It makes you wonder what sort of donkeys they take the Turks for.
"Iran developed a very sophisticated nuclear science and technological capability, which we are quite ready to share with…neighboring countries and friendly countries in the region," said Mohammad Javad Larijani.
"Turkey is for years trying to have a nuclear power plant but no country in the West is willing to build that for them," said Larijani, before a vote by the United Nations General Assembly's human rights committee.
Larijani wears many hats: he is head of Iran's High Council for Human Rights, adviser to Iran's chief justice, and head of a mathematics and physics institute.
Well connected
Larijani also is the brother of parliament speaker Ali Larijani, making him well connected. His remarks were timely, too, coming days after the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran is apparently at work on an atomic bomb.
Larijani's remarks were timed to coincide with support for Syria, Iran's ally in the region and the target of criticism from the US, the EU, the Arab League and—yes—even Turkey, too.
The Iranians were aiming to woo Turkey away from the growing alliance against Syria, and trying to use their nuclear expertise as the bait. "Help us, and you'll go nuclear."
That, of course, could be a temptation to the Turks, who have nuclear ambitions of their own. But the Turks also know that, on this issue, they have no need to succumb to the temptation of the Iranians.
For starters, the Turks are getting all the help they need from a variety of quarters. That emerged in October when Japan asked Turkey to continue with talks on a nuclear power plant deal.
Help from Japan
At the same time, Japan made sure to confirm with the US its plans to strengthen technical cooperation on nuclear power with Turkey. That happened during talks among Japan, Turkey, and the US on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting of the International Energy Agency.
In fact, Ankara has given two Japanese companies—Toshiba Corp. and Tokyo Electric Power Co.—priority rights to negotiate a deal to build a nuclear power plant in Turkey.
Those talks are going ahead without any input from the Iranians. And that brings us back to Mohammad Javad Larijani and his offer to help Turkey along the nuclear track.
Given Japan's role in Turkey's nuclear development, along with its clear US backing, Larijani's would-be nuclear carrot—in the eyes of Ankara's decision-makers—can only look decidedly wilted.
More Oil & Gas Journal Current Issue Articles
More Oil & Gas Journal Archives Issue Articles
View Oil and Gas Articles on PennEnergy.com