ABSTRACT
The Iranian case shows the power of market incentives to shape non-proliferation behaviour. The US policy of imposing sanctions on Russian firms that contribute to Iran's nuclear-weapon or ballistic-missile programmes has primarily influenced companies that receive US-funded threat-reduction or space-cooperation contracts. Moscow and Washington could do much more than exchange additional data and visits. In return for increased financial and other contributions, Russia's role in designing and operating threat-reduction activities could expand. The rationale for continuing the negative policies has become weaker over time. Iran's nuclear infrastructure and expertise have progressed to a point where Tehran may have the capacity to manufacture nuclear weapons even without additional Russian help. Perhaps the most important conclusion is the need for modest expectations regarding Russian-US security cooperation. When the Soviet Union first collapsed, some Americans and many Russians thought that the new Russian Federation could become another strategic partner of the United States, like Britain.
