BAGHDAD (CHATNEWSTV) — Iraq has announced civil nuclear cooperation agreements with Russia and China, raising concerns in Washington over potential proliferation risks and the influence of Iran-backed groups within the Baghdad government.
Naim al-Aboudi, Iraq’s Minister of Higher Education and head of the country’s Atomic Energy Commission, disclosed the twin partnerships over the past two weeks. The minister, a senior member of the U.S.-designated terrorist group Asaib Ahl al-Haq, said the projects are focused on peaceful energy development but include new nuclear infrastructure inside Iraq.
“We are developing an agreement with Russia to co-build small nuclear reactors,” Aboudi said on May 27, adding that negotiations began in early 2024. He described the goal as boosting Iraq’s electricity supply and long-term energy security.
Just days later, on June 1, Aboudi revealed a separate collaboration with China’s Atomic Energy Authority to build a subcritical training reactor at the long-dormant al-Tuwaitha complex near Baghdad. The site, once targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes, has recently been cleared of radiological contamination.
While the agreements are framed around civil energy needs, analysts and officials have voiced concerns over the involvement of armed factions and countries under heavy U.S. sanctions.
“These deals raise red flags—not just because of the technology, but because of who’s in charge,” one Western diplomat told the AP, requesting anonymity. “You’re dealing with actors who have historically resisted oversight and have ties to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions.”
The U.S. government has not formally responded to the announcements, but experts say the deals could complicate relations.
“The risk isn’t the training reactor—it’s the precedent,” said a former U.S. State Department official. “Once these actors normalize nuclear infrastructure without transparency, the IAEA could struggle to monitor future developments.”
Aboudi’s affiliation with Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) further complicates matters. The group, which maintains seats in parliament and militia control in parts of Iraq, has a history of violence against U.S. troops and infrastructure. In 2015, Aboudi, then AAH’s spokesman, said: “Every American who carried a gun is a target for us.”
Electricity shortages remain a pressing issue in Iraq, with peak summer demand expected to exceed 40 gigawatts, while current capacity lags at around 30 GW. Officials argue nuclear energy is a necessary part of the country’s future.
“We are looking to the same technologies other countries use,” Aboudi said. “This is about energy, not politics.”
However, critics argue that Iraq’s energy crisis is rooted in systemic inefficiencies. “The real bottlenecks are in transmission, losses, and subsidized pricing—not generation,” said an energy consultant in Baghdad. “There are faster, safer solutions than nuclear.”
Security analysts warn the opaque nature of the agreements, combined with militia involvement, could undermine international safeguards. Iraq is a signatory to the IAEA Additional Protocol, which requires detailed inspections and declarations of nuclear activity.
“If militias interfere with inspectors, the whole system breaks down,” said a regional nonproliferation expert. “And with China and Russia involved, Iraq could become a weak link in global nuclear oversight.”
In recent years, Chinese firms have expanded their energy footprint in Iraq, winning 13 of 16 major contracts signed between April and May. The Iraqi government argues Western firms have not provided viable alternatives in the nuclear sector.
Despite the announcements, Iraq still lacks a comprehensive nuclear regulatory law. Observers say that until such legislation is passed, actual implementation remains unlikely.
U.S. officials and Gulf allies are reportedly exploring a nuclear consortium model that could offer Iraq peaceful nuclear access without enrichment capabilities—reducing risks of technology diversion to Iran.
“There is a path forward,” said a Gulf diplomat. “But it doesn’t run through Tehran, Moscow, or Beijing.”
As Iraq prepares for a pivotal election later this year, Washington is expected to sharpen its diplomatic messaging and potentially reassess its posture toward Baghdad’s nuclear ambitions.
