VOA's "Iran's Desire for Nuclear Power v. the Ability to Maintain It"

To: Patrick Clawson,

I read your remarks about Iran's nuclear program on VOAnews.com and I would like to comment:

I am pretty sure that you know that construction of Bushehr Reactor started well before revolution and the designs/designers were mostly American/European.

I am also pretty sure that you know that researchers from Stanford Research Institute recommended production of 20,000 MW of nuclear electricity (this was before revolution as well)

Now, while the scientists have stated their opinion, I wonder why a politician like you, should comment on whether Iran needs nuclear power or should stick to its Oil/Natural Gas resources.

My little online research shows me that your remark about Bushehr Nuclear Reactor being located precisely on a fault, is not very accurate. Here is the map of faults in Iran (another one and one more) from the website of International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology. I do not see Bandar-e-Bushehr (Bushehr Port) being located precisely on a fault. (It is very unfortunate that faults are spread all over Iran and basically no place in Iran is safe in terms of being far from a fault, but your argument still doesn't seem to be accurate).

Regards,
Amir