Analysis: Iran Showdown Enters Next Phase
Council on Foreign Relations
September 1, 2006
Prepared by: Lionel Beehner
The Americans and Europeans want sanctions. Beijing and Moscow prefer further diplomacy. Where do Security Council negotiations over Iran's nuclear program go from here?
The August 31 deadline, imposed by the veto-wielding "Big Five" plus Germany, came and went without any agreement reached (CNN). The Iranians pledged their interest in "serious negotiations," but continued enriching small amounts of uranium on the side, undeterred by the threat of sanctions or international isolation. The latest report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) found at an Iranian facility new traces of highly enriched uranium which, contrary to Iranian claims, did not come from contaminated equipment originating in Pakistan. The particles found were not bomb-grade, and the IAEA claims it "has not uncovered any concrete proof that Iran's nuclear program is of a military nature."
That has not assuaged fears in Western capitals that Iran wants to build a bomb. "There must be consequences for Iran's defiance," pledged President Bush (NYT). But the UN Security Council disagrees over what those consequences should be. European and American officials are expected to meet in Berlin next week to plan a course of action. One proposal includes imposing political and economic sanctions outside the rubric of the Security Council. Another European proposal calls for softer sanctions, such as blocking Iranian access to international banks or imposing travel bans against top Iranian officials.
Read the rest of this article on the cfr.org website.
Copyright 2006 by the Council on Foreign Relations. This material is republished on GlobalSecurity.org with specific permission from the cfr.org. Reprint and republication queries for this article should be directed to cfr.org.
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