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As the year draws to a close one issue will continue to dominate headlines in 2008 as it has done over the last 12 months. Iran's nuclear programme will be an even hotter topic of discussion for the world's diplomats, especially after the landmark delivery of enriched uranium from Russia, allowing for the completion of the long-delayed reactor at Bushehr.
About 80 tonnes of fuel have been received, with further consignments expected in the next two months. The delivery marked a possible weakening of the international coalition opposing Iranian nuclear ambitions which the US and its allies are deeply suspicious about. All deliveries would be under the control of the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN's nuclear watchdog.
Opposition to Iran's nuclear energy programme seems to have softened following a report from 16 US intelligence agencies that concluded that Iran had abandoned its nuclear weapons programme in 2003 and had not re-started it. But this should not be seen by Washington as "bad news''. Iran has the opportunity to respond to the deliveries by suspending enrichment and allowing the international community to guarantee supplies of enriched uranium. Any nuclear programme, in any country, must be fully accountable and open to inspection. Iran has every right to develop nuclear energy but it would be wrong to take this right as an allowance for secrecy.
The delivery of uranium is not, on its own, a solution. But it has within it the possibility of being part of a solution. The Iranian nuclear issue has to be resolved by diplomacy; there is no other means that should even be considered. If America and Iran can discuss issues involving Iraq then it stands to reason that they should sit down and discuss this nuclear issue. It will be difficult to comprehend a failure to do so.
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