Newly declassified documents from the US National Security Archive have laid bare unusually blunt and candid conversations between then US President George W. Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin, exposing deep anxieties over nuclear proliferation — with Pakistan and Iran at the centre of global concern.
What The Transcripts Reveal
The transcripts reveal Bush describing Pakistan as “a junta with nuclear weapons,” questioning why the West avoided criticism despite Islamabad’s democratic deficit and growing nuclear risk. Putin, far from pushing back, concurred, stating plainly that Pakistan’s nuclear status “makes me nervous,” underscoring rare alignment between Washington and Moscow on South Asia’s nuclear volatility.
At the heart of the discussions was the fear of nuclear leakage. Bush informed Putin that the US was worried about transfers of nuclear material and know-how from Pakistan to Iran and North Korea. The documents confirm Washington’s scepticism over former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s assurances, even after scientist A.Q. Khan was placed under house arrest. Bush is recorded as saying he repeatedly reminded Musharraf of the issue, doubting whether Islamabad was being fully forthcoming.
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What Vladimir Putin Told George Bush
Putin, in a striking revelation, told Bush that uranium of Pakistani origin had been found in Iranian centrifuges — a disclosure that sharply reinforced US claims of illicit proliferation. Bush acknowledged that Iran had failed to declare this material to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), calling it a clear violation.
Iran’s nuclear ambitions dominate large sections of the exchange. Bush warned that Tehran was “testing and probing” the West, looking for the weakest link within the EU-3 — Britain, France, and Germany — with Germany singled out as particularly vulnerable. While conceding that the military option against Iran “stinks,” Bush insisted it could not be taken off the table.
The documents also reveal Israeli anxieties. Bush noted that Iranian nuclear weapons “really scare the Israelis” and warned that if Israel felt compelled to strike Iran, the consequences would be severe. However, he made it clear that the US would not conduct targeting on Israel’s behalf.
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What Concerns Putin Raised on Iran’s Nuclear Programme
Putin raised concerns about the lack of clarity around Iran’s nuclear facilities and cautioned that cooperation with Pakistan on nuclear matters still existed — a point that alarmed both sides. The Russian President later observed that Iran appeared to have “made a decision” on its nuclear path, even as it sought to continue negotiations with the EU-3.
Taken together, the declassified files expose a moment when Washington and Moscow shared stark assessments of nuclear danger — warning that the gravest threats did not stem from a US–Russia rivalry, but from proliferation networks stretching across South Asia and the Middle East.
