Iran Nuclear Watch

Iran Nuclear Watch: United States – Russia Nuclear Cooperation Agreement?

A 2005 file photo showing President Bush (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pusan, South Korea November 18, 2005. The United States is discussing the possibility of a civilian nuclear energy agreement with Russia that could help wean Moscow away from cooperation with Iran, according to U.S. officials.

Reuters: US mulls nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia

The United States is discussing the possibility of a civilian nuclear energy agreement with Russia that could help wean Moscow away from cooperation with Iran, according to U.S. officials.

The move comes as Western powers are increasingly alarmed about what they say is Iran’s determination to produce nuclear weapons.

Diplomatic efforts to persuade Tehran to reverse course so far have been frustrated, in part because of U.S. and allied differences with Russia, the only major power still engaging in lucrative nuclear cooperation with the Islamic republic.

In recent interviews, several U.S. officials said a possible nuclear energy accord with Moscow is under review. They spoke anonymously because the issue is sensitive and no final decision has been made.

Such an agreement would be a significant change in U.S. policy, which now prohibits most nuclear cooperation with Russia because of Moscow’s pivotal role in building Iran’s $800 million nuclear power plant at Bushehr.

A cooperation agreement is “something that we’re actively evaluating” and have discussed with the Russians over the past two months, one official told Reuters.

“It would provide a foundation for greater (U.S.-Russia) cooperation but doesn’t commit the sides to any particular project and could be a way of demonstrating to the Russians how much larger our market is than what exists in Iran,” he added.

Russia has long defended its nuclear cooperation and conventional arms sales to Iran as a critical revenue source.

The CARROT for Russia…..

Will they pull out of Bushehr and further isolate Iran?

While Russia remains committed to Bushehr, U.S. officials say work has slowed and Moscow still has not delivered critical nuclear fuel for the reactor.

Robert Einhorn, a former top U.S. nonproliferation official, said a nuclear agreement with Russia is a sound idea “but whether by itself it will constitute a sufficient carrot for Russia to take a tougher position on Iran remains to be seen.”

IAEA report is due tomorrow….a leak today?

Stay Tuned….

Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Has Received Missiles With European Range

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rice – United States Worries that Iran Will Share Nuclear Technology

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Threatens to Hide Its Nuclear Program

Iran Nuclear Watch: United Nations Security Council to Consider Chapter 7 Resolution on Iran Uranium Enrichment

Iran Nuclear Watch: Bush Administration – “We Are Very Close to the “POINT OF NO RETURN”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Defense Minister Mostafa Mohammad-Najjar – Any United States Military Attack Would Be a “HUMILIATING DEFEAT”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Israel is a “FAKE REGIME”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Warns Against Threatening Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia and Iran Reach “Basic Deal” on Uranium Enrichment

Iran Nuclear Watch: United States – “Embargo Military Sales to Iran”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia – “Decision on Iran Must Await IAEA Report”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia Continues Opposition to United Nations Sanctions

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ali Larijani – “Iran will follow its nuclear programme with patience.”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rafsanjani – “We Are at the Service of the Whole Region”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Tony Blair Refuses to Back Iran Strike

Iran Nuclear Watch: Peres – “Ahmadinejad Will End Up Like Saddam”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Issues Military WARNING to the United States

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – “Israel is Heading Toward Annihilation”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Russia to Host New Talks on Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Rice – “United States Will Look at the Full Range of Options Available to the United Nations.”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – “We Won’t Hold Talks With Anyone About the Right of the Iranian Nation (to Enrich Uranium)”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Could Produce a Nuclear Bomb in 16 Days

Iran Nuclear Watch: Condoleezza Rice – Iran Uranium Enrichment Will Require “Strong Steps” from the United Nations Security Council

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran to Move to Large-Scale Uranium Enrichment

Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Cannot Confirm Uranium Enrichment Claim

Iran Nuclear Watch: Mark Steyn – Facing Down Iran

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – “Iran Has Joined the Club of Nuclear Countries”

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran Producing Enriched Uranium

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – “Iran Won’t Back Down ‘ONE IOTA’ in Nuclear FLAP

Iran Nuclear Watch: Bush – “Wild Speculation”

Iran Nuclear Watch: White House Dampens Talk of Iran Military Strike

Iran Nuclear Watch: Iran – “United States Engaged in Psychological War”

Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Nuclear Attack on Iran – “Not on the Agenda”

Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Considers Use of Nuclear Weapons Against Iran – Redux

Iran Nuclear Watch: United States Considers Use of Nuclear Weapons Against Iran

The Natanz uranium enrichment complex in Natanz is pictured in this January 2, 2006 satellite image.



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