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A Russian worker walks past the Bushehr nuclear power plant, 1,200 km (746 miles) south of Tehran October 26, 2010. REUTERS/Mehr News Agency/Majid Asgaripour© Stringer Iran / Reuters/Reuters

The news last week that Russia has entered into a contract with Iran to build at least two nuclear reactors for that country, and perhaps as many as six more, may sound like the worst of all possible outcomes – especially with international negotiations on Iran's nuclear program approaching a deadline. But giving Iran more nuclear reactors may, paradoxically, be the way of keeping Iran from getting the bomb.

The Iranian government has always been evasive on whether it is trying to build a nuclear weapon – but it has always insisted that, in spite of its oil wealth, it needs peaceful nuclear electricity. Iran's pitch is that it's after nuclear power, not nuclear bombs. New reactors would greatly increase Iran's ability to produce electricty from nuclear power. Result: A political win for the Iranian leadership. However, the Russians would apparently apply International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards, including removing spent reactor fuel – which means Iran wouldn't be able to produce nuclear weapons. Assuming the safeguards are respected, that would be a big win for the international community.

The West and Russia disagree on a host of issues, but this is one area where their interests intersect. Vladimir Putin's Russia is a leading member of the exclusive club of nuclear-armed states, and he has no interest in diminishing that status. Still less does Russia want a nuclear-armed Islamic neighbour that aspires to influence in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Russia is one of the group of six powers, together with Germany, that is negotiating with Iran on its nuclear program.

Negotiations are supposed to conclude this week. They've been extended before, and the Iranians are under pressure to make a deal. Tehran is living with tough sanctions and the threat of more to come. The Russian agreement's timing is almost certainly not a coincidence, and it may open the door to a negotiated outcome: one where the international community wins without forcing Iran's rulers to visibly, publicly lose face.

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