However, as reported in the St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida) Times, NASA has said it is constrained by U.S. legislation from making these unexpected payments to Russia in support of ISS. The Iran Nonproliferation Act of 2000 bars “extraordinary payments” to Russia’s space agency for the station unless the United States confirms Russia has not transferred missile technology or nuclear, chemical or biological weapons to Iran in the previous year. The nonproliferation law reflects strong U.S. concerns that Russia’s ties with Iran are helping the Islamic republic advance its nuclear and missile programs. Russia says its nuclear cooperation with Iran is strictly limited to a contract for building a $800 million civilian nuclear-power plant in Bushehr and denies any leaks of missile technology. Koptev on Thursday dismissed the U.S. accusations of cooperation with Iran as “political myths” and urged the U.S. Administration to seek a waiver of the nonproliferation act. Not gonna happen. Scott Pace, NASA’s deputy chief of staff, said Feb. 19 that the space agency is not pressing the White House for a waiver. “We don’t see a need to cross that particular bridge at this time,” Pace said. “It is not NASA’s intent to make foreign policy.”

Kuptov has responded by seeking European funding for the ISS resupply modules and offering to fly European astronauts on long-duration space missions, a slot currently filled only by U.S. astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. NASA administrator Sean O’Keefe downplayed concerns the United States could find its presence aboard the space station diminished.
“How we treat each other and work through this in times of challenge like we see today is the reason why this kind of partnership was put together,” said O’Keefe. Translated, O’Keefe is admitting that possession is nine-tenths of the law, and for now, the Russians have effective possession of ISS. This is a situation that may not ever change. Thursday, O’Keefe said that he couldn’t guarantee that the three remaining space shuttles would ever fly again. Asked if he was certain that the shuttle would fly again, he said, “I am not certain of anything in this life. Feb. 1 reminds us all (of) how risky this business is.”