by Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett

As Iran gains membership to the world's nuclear club, the direction and nature of negotiations will change.  In the past, the West's prime aim was for the most part based on bringing Iran's nuclear activities to an overall halt.  This time around, however, the focus of the talks will be on the preservation of the domestic fuel cycle capability, insisting upon independent enrichment on Iranian soil.  In this respect, the role of Russia will be significant in future talks.

In Kayhan's assessment, after the United Nations Security Council's adoption of Resolution 1929 in June, "the Russians realized that uncritically pursuing the Western line would cause them to lose their importance in the diplomatic tug-of-war surrounding Iran's nuclear program. . . .  Russia, as a result, in a shift of policy decided to launch the Bushehr plant."

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