IRAN CORNERED: PUTIN FALLS IN PLACE

NYTIMES:

Russia has informed Iran that it will withhold nuclear fuel for Iran’s nearly completed Bushehr power plant unless Iran suspends its uranium enrichment as demanded by the United Nations Security Council, European, American and Iranian officials said.

The ultimatum was delivered in Moscow last week by Igor Ivanov, Russia’s Security Council Secretary, to Ali Hosseini Tash, Iran’s deputy chief nuclear negotiator, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because a confidential diplomatic exchange between two governments was involved.

For years, President Bush has been pressing President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to cut off help to Iran on the nuclear reactor, which is Tehran’s first serious effort to produce nuclear energy and has been highly profitable for Russia. But Mr. Putin has resisted.

Recently, however, Moscow and Tehran have been engaged in a public argument about whether Iran has paid its bills, in a dispute that may explain Russia’s apparent shift. The ultimatum may also reflect Moscow’s increasing displeasure and frustration with Iran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium at its vast facility at Natanz.

“We’re not sure what mix of commercial and political motives are at play here,” one senior Bush administration official said in Washington. “But clearly the Russians and the Iranians are getting on each other’s nerves — and that’s not all bad.”

“We consider this a very important decision by the Russians,” a senior European official said. “It shows that our disagreements with the Russians about the dangers of Iran’s nuclear program are tactical. Fundamentally, the Russians don’t want a nuclear Iran.”

I AM SURPRISED, PLEASED - IF NOT RELIEVED! THIS IS ADDITIONAL LEVERAGE WE NEEDED.

IT PROVES - ONCE AGAIN - THAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION IS NOT A ONE-NOTE/MILITARISTIC/UNILATERALIST GANG UNABLE OR WILLING TO FULLY USE DIPLOMACY.

LEFTIES WHO PERSIST IN ACCUSING BUSH OF UNILATERALISM OR RUSHING TO WAR ARE IRRATIONAL AND IN DENIAL OF REALITY. IF ANYTHING, THEN BUSH HAS BEEN TOO MULTILATERALIST AND TOO PATIENT WITH IRAN AND NORTH KOREA.