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QUESTION: Extensively, you spoke about the Iranian nuclear reactor for the last day or two. Also Secretary Powell has extensively spoken concerning that. And Russia, today, say that they have finished work on the nuclear reactor and are waiting for a signed agreement with Tehran with respect to the spent fuel rods, returning them to Russia at each juncture when they're spent.

Does Russia have any responsibility in this interim period and especially if it slips beyond November? In other words, would the nuclear scientists in Tehran just start using that reactor to enrich the fuel...

BOUCHER: Well, let's slow down. They can't enrich the fuel unless they get the fuel. And the import of what you're telling me of the Russian announcement -- I haven't seen it myself, but I do know that has been Russian policy now. And as you know, we've worked hard for a long time with the international community to get people to understand our concerns about development of the Iranian nuclear program.

BOUCHER: The Russians have, in the past, had a lot of cooperation there, cooperation we thought was being used as a cover for nuclear weapons activities.

And progressively over time, the Russians have cut off some of the specific exchanges. And they've now adopted a position, which we think is a very positive one, which is that they are willing to supply fuel for the reactor only if it's under international standards and safeguards; and second of all, that the fuel would be returned to Russia after it was spent.

And so it's another example, really, of where the international community does share our concerns about Iran and has come to share our concerns about Iran. And it's another example of the kinds of benefits and opportunities that the Iranians are missing out on by not cooperating with the international community on nuclear safeguards and controls.

QUESTION: Do you have new guarantees from Russia that the new fuel rods, unused, are inactive and not at that facility?

BOUCHER: I don't know the exact status of the facility. I wasn't aware that there were any fuel rods there at this point.