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Fuel for Bushehr

[New York Times] Editorial - President Bush said that it is good that Russia finally delivered fuel for Iran's Russian-built nuclear power reactor at Bushehr. Don't believe it. Washington and the other major powers are going to have to be a lot more creative and a lot more tough-minded if there is any hope of restraining Iran's nuclear ambitions. Moscow - which would like to sell more nuclear reactors to Iran - clearly decided that all the restraints are off now that the U.S. intelligence community has reported that Tehran halted its secret nuclear weapons program in 2003. This week, Tehran announced that Russia would also sell it a powerful new air defense system. Iran hid its nuclear efforts for years, still isn't cooperating with international inspectors, and is defying a Security Council order to halt making its own fuel - the hardest part of building a weapon. By delivering nuclear fuel to Bushehr, Russia has squandered important leverage and sent a loud and clear message to Tehran that it can continue to defy the Security Council and continue with its nuclear program. The U.S. and its allies now need to redouble their efforts to persuade Russia to withhold remaining fuel shipments as part of a new package of intensified pressures.
2007-12-27 01:00:00
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