Tehran states that it wants nuclear plants to meet the country’s growing energy needs and develop industry and infrastructure. Washington charges this is a cover for a nuclear weapons program, and has been pressing the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to bring Iran before the Security Council for sanctions.

In late 2004, after talks with the European Union (EU) governments of Britain, France, and Germany, Tehran agreed to a temporary suspension of uranium enrichment, a step necessary to produce nuclear fuel, but one the U.S. government claims is proof of weapons production. Iranian officials have repeatedly stated that they will eventually resume enriching uranium.

“In order to run our nuclear reactors efficiently, the Islamic Republic of Iran needs to master that field,” stated supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei February 23. “If the Westerners insist that no nation but themselves is entitled to master the nuclear sciences, that is an irrational and arrogant demand.”

Bush reported that in his meetings with leaders in London, Paris, and Berlin, “all said loud and clear that the Iranians should not have a nuclear weapon.…The most effective way to achieve that goal is to have our partners Britain and France and Germany represent not only the EU, not only NATO, but the United States. And hopefully we’ll be able to reach a diplomatic solution to this.”

“We absolutely agree that Iran must say No to any kind of nuclear weapon. Full stop,” declared German chancellor Gerhard Schröder after meeting with Bush February 23. “We are very much of the opinion that this is the target that needs to be achieved through a diplomatic negotiating path, if possible. But this means there needs to be movement on both sides.”

The EU negotiators have been pressing Iran to make its suspension of uranium enrichment permanent. They have also urged the United States to drop its opposition to Iran joining the World Trade Organization.

While in Europe, Bush reiterated Washington’s refusal to rule out a military assault on Iran. At a February 22 news conference at the European Union in Brussels, he said, “This notion that the United States is getting ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous…. And having said that, all options are on the table.”

The IAEA board of governors was scheduled to begin its quarterly meeting February 28. Reuters reported that Washington would not propose any resolutions on Iran at this meeting.

“But the next quarterly meeting in June will be different,” the news agency continued. “Washington is ready to give EU-Iran negotiations until that meeting to achieve their aim. If they fail, it will renew its campaign to have the IAEA refer Iran to the Security Council.”

At a joint news conference February 24 with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Bush said the Russian leader agrees with Washington that Iran and north Korea should not have nuclear weapons. “I appreciate Vladimir’s understanding on that,” said Bush.

But over Washington’s strong opposition, Russia has helped construct the Bushehr nuclear plant in Iran, where 2,000 Russian engineers and scientists are already working. The plant is due to go on line in 2006.

Three days after Bush’s meeting with Putin, Alexander Rumyantsev, the head of Russia’s Federal Atomic Energy Agency, signed an accord with Iran to provide fuel for the Bushehr plant.

In a concession to the U.S. government, language was added to the accord. Reuters reports that the new language obligates Tehran to return all spent nuclear fuel from the Bushehr reactor to Russia.  
 
 
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