Iran Nuclear Watch: New Iran Nuclear Sanctions Headed to United Nations

Update:

An Iranian technician works at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facilities (UCF), February 2007. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the UN Security Council lacked any legitimacy, as the world body prepared a second package of sanctions over Iran’s disputed nuclear programme.

AP: World powers agree on new Iran sanctions

A proposed new package of sanctions against Iran for enriching uranium appeared headed to the U.N. Security Council after ambassadors for six world powers resolved remaining differences.

The six-nation show of unity would be unlikely to meet strong opposition from the other 10 members on the council, which must approve the measures. A vote was expected in the days to come.

But, will the “NEW” sanctions be MEANINGFUL?

NOPE

The modest package includes an embargo on Iranian arms exports and an asset freeze on more individuals and companies associated with Tehran’s nuclear and missile programs, council diplomats said.

The United States and the Europeans would certainly favor tougher sanctions, but knew they had to settle for less to ensure that Russia and China, which have close commercial ties with Iran, will not use their veto power to block a resolution.

More weak sauce from the P-5-Plus-1 and……..

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad gestures during a meeting with Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi in Tehran March 12, 2007. Ahmadinejad said on Thursday a United Nations Security Council resolution could not stop the Islamic state from obtaining nuclear technology, the official IRNA news agency reported.

……..President Ahmadinejad REJECTS the new sanctions as “A TORN PIECE OF PAPER.”

Reuters: U.N. resolution “torn paper”: Ahmadinejad

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday dismissed any new U.N. sanctions resolution as “a torn piece of paper” that would not stop Tehran’s nuclear work, the official IRNA news agency reported.

“Issuing such torn pieces of paper … will not have an impact on Iranian nation’s will (to obtain nuclear technology),” IRNA quoted Ahmadinejad as telling a rally in central Iran.

U.S., British, French, German, Russian and Chinese diplomats at the
United Nations have reached a tentative deal on imposing fresh sanctions on Iran and hope to introduce the measure at the Security Council on Thursday, providing their governments agree.

An earlier sanctions resolution passed by the Security Council in December was derided by Ahmadinejad in similar terms.

In the meantime…….

Iran ‘s top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani gestures during a news conference after the 43rd Conference on Security Policy in Munich February 11, 2007. Iran would respond militarily if the United States attacks the country to disrupt its nuclear program, Iran’s official IRNA news agency quoted Larijani as saying on Wednesday.

……Ali Larijani continues Iran’s sabre rattling.

As Flap has said before:

Iran has refused to halt uranium enrichment despite United Nations Resolution 1737.

So, this move by Iran will further isolate the country and lead the United Nations Security Council to consider further economic and political sanctions. But, will this be enough to stop Iranâ€™s quest for a nuclear weapon?

Probably notâ€¦.

Flap foresees a couple of scenarios:

1. Israel learns that Iran is further along in its nuclear weapons development program and decides its survival is predicated on taking out this capability militarily.

2. Iran attacks a Gulf State, oil transport, or mines the Strait of Hormuz in retailiation for United Nations sanctions or Israel/American military movements.

In either case the World oil supply particularly to Europe wil be disrupted. There will be economic hardships until oil transport is restored.

But, Flap asks the question: Does the world confront Iran now or wait until it is closer to possessing a nuclear bomb?

Others are concerned and predict dire consequences should the United States attack Iran.

Perhaps the Europeans and Brits do not completely understand President Bush and the American government. President Bush will take measured steps (as he did prior to the March 2003 invasion of Iraq) against Iran. A diplomatic track is always preferable to military action.

However, the American government and the United Nations Security Council have stated that it is not in the worldâ€™s interest to have a nuclear weapon possessing Iran. And, thus, all options are on the table, including military action.

Flap thinks that EU and United Nations negotiations have been feckless, fruitless FAILED efforts and that a â€œNUCLEAR POINT OF NO RETURNâ€ is at hand. Now is the time for decisions.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

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