1. How Russia's nuclear fuel delivery to Iran benefits nonproliferation http://www.thebulletin.org/columns/pavel-podvig/20071220.html
By Pavel Podvig | 20 December 2007
It's possible that by delivering the first 180 fuel assemblies to the Bushehr nuclear power plant in Iran on December 16, Russia scored a critical victory for the nuclear nonproliferation regime. Early acknowledgement of the event's importance came from an unlikely source--President George W. Bush. Commenting on the Russian shipment, he publicly urged Iran to now suspend its controversial enrichment program, arguing that with Russian fuel, Iran no longer needed to enrich uranium on its own. Of course, it's unlikely that Iran will stop its centrifuges--at least not any time soon. But if Washington accepts the shipment of rector fuel to Bushehr as legitimate--despite the continuing controversy surrounding the Iranian nuclear program--it will set an important precedent that should help build a workable system of fuel supply guarantees. http://www.thebulletin.org/columns/pavel-podvig/20071220.html
2. Behind Russia and Iran's nuclear reactor dispute http://thebulletin.org/columns/pavel-podvig/20070326.html
By Pavel Podvig | 26 March 2007
Developments during the last several weeks seem to suggest that Russia is reconsidering its nuclear cooperation with Iran. Just months ago, Moscow pledged with great fanfare that the Bushehr reactor would be ready for the first shipment of fuel in March and would reach criticality in September 2007. But in February, Russia backtracked, claiming it had to delay the fuel delivery because of missed payments. As for the reactor's launch, the only thing that's certain is that it will not happen in September. The situation became even more puzzling after reports that Russia warned Iran that Moscow might suspend the project if Tehran does not stop its enrichment program and that some Russian technical specialists are returning home. Are we seeing a radical turn in Russian policy? Probably not, but the situation is more complicated. http://thebulletin.org/columns/pavel-podvig/20070326.html