Talk:Atomic Energy Organization of Iran

For what it is worth... In 1974, I received a call at 2:30AM from Ahmed Sootidineah (sp?), a friend that I had worked with at Core Laboratories in Dallas, TX. Ahmed had a PhD in Nuclear Physics, probably from Tehran University, and while in Dallas, received an MBA in International Business from the University of Dallas.

Ahmed proceeded to tell me that upon his return to Iran after the petroleum engineering study, he had been asked to head up the effort to construct 20 nuclear power units. He had a secretary and asked if I would come to Tehran and help him build the organization. AEOI was headed by Dr. Akbar Etemad, Deputy Prime Minister of Iran. Since I was at the age when all things were possible, 27, I agreed to come help out.

Upon arrival in Tehran, I was told that I should not worry about the gunfire at night since it was contained in the southern sector of the city and was just a bunch of radicals blowing off steam. From 1974 to 1977, we negotiated contracts. First, for the site at Bushere, we contracted with Kraftwerk Union, a German subsidiary of Siemens. We completed the negotiations in late 1975 and had the 40' pad for the Bushere plant poured and substantial infrastructure built before my departure. The second unit was to be located in Ahwaz and was to be built by Framatome, a consortium of French technology companies. We complete the negotiations in late 1976 and initial site work was started before my departure.

The designs that were being purchased for the Bushere and Ahwaz locations were both Westinghouse designs. President Jimmy Carter had restricted Iran from receiving nuclear technology and American companies were therefore prohibited from participation in these projects. I remember the visit of Dixie ???, Head of the US Atomic Energy Agency, to Tehran. I remember that all on the Tehran side of the discussions put little value in her visit. The agency was very concerned with keeping in line with IAEA regulations and went to great length to comply.

All during my tenure, there were intermittent violent acts carried out by the 'radicals'. The gunfire at night got more persistent and finally moved up to my neighborhood. Since I had my family with me at the time, I decided that it was probably a good time to get out while you could still take the carpets with you. I had already done a one-year renewal of my original two-year contract and Ahmed understood. The subsequent events of 1979 proved my assessment correct.

In 2007, we are being bombarded with negative comments on Iran's policies and I give the forgoing preamble to place the following comment in context.

The Iranian people are highly moral and independent. As it was in the 1970's, so it is today. The United States will always fail when it attempts to lead by dictate. We have not cornered the market on wisdom or independence and we must not continue to delude ourselves otherwise. Real interaction with those holding different views is the only way to reach mutually satisfactory resolution to issues that arise.

Gbowman 16:23, 5 June 2007 (UTC)


 * Thank You for your comments and recount of your stay in Tehran. They are indeed appreciated very much.--Zereshk 00:09, 6 June 2007 (UTC)

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