February 26, 2005

Iran, Russia Postpone Nuclear Fuel Signing

Iran and Russia suddenly postponed on Saturday the signing of a key deal to supply Iran with fuel for its first nuclear reactor, and officials from the two countries were holding new talks, apparently to resolve last-minute differences.

The agreement had been scheduled to be signed Saturday morning. But after hours of delay, Yacoub Jabbarian, an official at Iran's Atomic Energy Agency, told reporters that talks had been prolonged and it was not clear when the signing would take place.
[Hopefully, it never will!--Jen]

He did not say why the talks had been reopened on the agreement, which had been worked out in months of negotiations between Moscow and Tehran.

The deal would pave the way for Iran to bring its nuclear reactor at Bushehr online, with Russia providing it fuel then taking back the spent fuel, a safeguard meant to banish fears Iran would use it to build nuclear weapons.

The United States strongly opposes the agreement, saying the Iranians could use the Bushehr reactor as part of a nuclear weapons program.

That's right.
And that's exactly what President Bush had his firm little talk about with Vladimir yesterday.
Seriously, Bush must have put the fear of God in Putin (literally!) as not only did Russia stand to make a lot of money on this deal, but they wanted be evil and give the moo-lahs nukes so badly!
I hope this is the beginning of the end of the Iranian nuke crisis--for our sake, Israel's, Iraq's and EUrope's.
Keep your fingers crossed and your prayers directed Heavenward!