20.10.2021, Moscow.
China’s leadership may decide to transfer nuclear submarines to Iran in response to the establishment of the AUKUS alliance by the US, the UK and Australia, political scientist Yury Baranchik wrote on his Telegram channel on October 20.
Earlier, during his visit to the USA, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi stressed that the example of Canberra, which will receive nuclear submarines as part of a new military-political partnership with Washington and London, could be followed by other countries.
“Since the AUKUS format is directed against China, Beijing could take a symmetrical step and transfer nuclear submarine technology to Iran,” Baranchik noted.
“Especially since there is a comprehensive agreement between the countries on political, strategic and economic cooperation,” he added.
According to him, the IAEA will express concern about the transfer of submarine technology to Australia, but will not find violations of the nuclear nonproliferation regime in this deal.
“This will set a precedent and a legal basis for transferring such technology to other countries. And Iran is first in line here,” the analyst concluded.
The partnership between Australia, Britain and the USA was announced in September. The agreement presupposes cooperation in the sphere of defense and security. After the announcement of AUKUS, official Canberra announced its withdrawal from the agreement with the French company Naval Group on the construction of submarines, which amounted to €56 billion.
The new agreement provides for cooperation in the creation of defense technologies, including autonomous weapons systems based on artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and computer technology. Under the agreement, Australia will for the first time be able to build nuclear-powered submarines.
According to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, the transfer of nuclear propulsion technology to Australia as part of the created AUKUS unit is a concern for the Russian side. He noted that such technology transfer is inconsistent with the nonproliferation regime, as it violates guarantees of non-use of peaceful nuclear technology for military purposes.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
