MP: Iranian vessels to use N. fuel

A senior Iranian legislator revealed the country's plan to use nuclear fuel in its vessels, and urged the governmet to enrich uranium to the needed levels to be used in such nuclear-powered ships. "The government should enrich uranium to the needed level to supply fuel for the ships," member of the parliament's Industries Commission Allahverdi Dehqani told FNA on Tuesday. "Given the western states' sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, which include embargo on supplying fuel to Iranian vessels, the Islamic Republic will replace the fossil fuel with nuclear fuel to counter the sanctions so that the Iranian ships will not need refueling for long-distance voyage," he added. "The government should enrich uranium to the necessary levels to supply fuel for such ships since we cannot cut our trade relations with other countries due to the western sanctions," Dehqani said. "The western countries have violated the Iranian nation's rights with their measures, and their past record shows that they are the biggest violators of human rights," he underlined. His remarks came after the Iranian lawmakers prepared a draft bill requiring the government to design nuclear-powered merchant ships and provide them with nuclear fuel. MP Mohammad Bayatian said on Monday that sanctions are forcing Iran to use different fuel for its oil tankers and other large vessels, to avert the need to refuel during long voyages. Another lawmaker, Mehrdad Bazrpash also told FNA on Sunday that "a bill has come on the agenda of the parliament's Industries Commission which requires the mines and industries sector of the government to seriously focus on new technological plans for oil tankers and warships' engines". Bazrpash said according to the plan, the country's oil tankers and warships should be able to sail long distances without any need to refueling in those countries which refrain from providing Iranian vessels with fuel due to the sanctions. Bayatian said the bill has been approved by a parliamentary committee and will be debated in the house next week. "Given the sanctions that enemies have imposed against our country, the bill must be enacted," he said. Iranian military officials have also earlier informed that the country is designing a nuclear submarine. Last week, a senior Iranian Navy commander stressed Iran's high capabilities in designing and manufacturing different types of submarines, and announced the country's move towards manufacturing nuclear-powered submarines. Speaking to FNA last Tuesday, Lieutenant Commander of the Navy for Technical Affairs Rear Admiral Abbas Zamini pointed to the navy's plan to manufacture super heavy nuclear-powered submarines, and stated, "Right now, we are at the initial phases of manufacturing atomic submarines." He noted Iran's astonishing progress in developing and acquiring civilian nuclear technology for various power-generation, agricultural and medical purposes, and said such advancements allow Iran to think of manufacturing nuclear-fueled submarines. He further reminded that using nuclear power to fuel submarines is among the civilian uses of the nuclear technology and allcountries are, thus, entitled to the right to make such a use.