The US Congressmen have opposed the sale of an American uranium producing plant to a Russian company in what can be described as defying the image of America as a free trade nation and practicing double standards when it comes to their interests. A number of influential members in the US House of Representatives wrote a letter to the US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner saying that selling a uranium mine in Wyoming to a Russian company threatened US national security because the uranium might land in Iran, which has been cooperating with Russia for years. A mere mention of “Iran” sends most Americans into panic. For this reason, the United States resorts to it whenever needed. Vladimir Averchev, a member of Russia’s Foreign and Defense Policy Council, comments:
"The Congressmen see Russia’s nuclear cooperation with Iran as running counter to US national interests, the expert says. And some politicians believe that Russia is not close enough to the US to be allowed into an industry which is of vital importance to the US national security."
What the Congressmen have in mind is the nuclear power plant in Bushehr. But the plant is under tough control from the IAEA and uranium is supplied in quantities necessary to keep the plant operating.
The attempt by the US Congressmen to block the deal between the Canadian “Uranium One” and a Rosatom branch is designed to prevent Russia from entering the American nuclear energy market. “Uranium One” owns 100 percent of shares in the Wyoming mine. If the deal goes ahead, the Russian company will get a majority stake in the US’ largest uranium pit and obtain a license for one fifth of the uranium produced in the US.
The US demonstrated a similar pattern of conduct in the motor industry about a year ago, when it vetoed the sale of GM-owned Opel and Saab to Russian shareholders. Clearly, politicians in the US dread healthy competition and Russia’s growing positions on the international market. Competition in the US is reduced to zero when it is seen as posing a threat to the country’s well-being.
