Russia gives Iran ultimatum over uranium enrichment

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 UN Security Council, European, American and Iranian officials said, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

According to the report, the ultimatum was delivered in Moscow last week by Igor Ivanov, the secretary of the Russian National Security Council, to Ali Hosseini Tash, Iran's deputy chief nuclear negotiator, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

For years, President Bush has been pressing President Vladimir Putin of Russia to cut off help to Iran on the nuclear reactor that Russia is building in Bushehr. Putin has resisted. The project has been profitable for Russia.

Recently, however, Moscow and Tehran have engaged in a public argument about whether Iran has paid its bills relating to the plant, which may explain Russia's apparent shift. The ultimatum may also reflect an increasing displeasure on Moscow's part with Iran over its refusal to stop enriching uranium at its facility at Natanz.

"We consider this a very important decision by the Russians," said a senior European official. "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."

South Africa guts big power deal on sanctions

According to a report by Reuters, South Africa wants to drop all key UN sanctions proposals against Iran that were negotiated by major powers, including an arms embargo and financial bans on an Iranian state bank and the Revolutionary Guards.

While the draft could probably be adopted by the Security Council without South Africa's backing, the major powers had wanted passage to be unanimous, and include an important developing nation such as South Africa.

In a paper of "required amendments" sent to the 15 council members on Sunday and obtained by reporters on Monday, South Africa also called for all sanctions to be suspended for 90 days so another round of political negotiations could be held with Tehran.

Consequently, council diplomats, who had hoped for a vote on the draft resolution this week, said they did not expect one until next week.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to address the council on the day of the vote about how Iran's nuclear program is for generating electricity only.

Reuters contributed to the report