 UNITED NATIONS - If Europeans and the United States succeed in referring Iranâs nuclear program to the UN Security Council, sanctions or other enforcement actions would be a long way off, if imposed at all. But at a minimum the West is counting on a political and diplomatic embarrassment for Teheran, which this month removed UN inspection seals on uranium enrichment equipment, deepening suspicions it is seeking nuclear arms.
Otherwise Teheran would not be fighting a referral, diplomats and other experts say. âIranians are very proud and donât want to become a pariah state like North Korea,â said Edward Luck, a Columbia University professor specializing in UN affairs. âI think they would find it very unattractive.â
| That sound you hear from the east is the sound of the Mad Mullahs⢠laughing their turbans off at you. |
Russia, and especially China, are against imposing penalties on Iran, although Moscow has moved closer to Western views on a referral to the Security Council. Both nations, along with the United States, France and Britain, have veto power in the 15-member council.
Even if no oil embargo or blanket sanctions are enacted, the council could impose an arms embargo, a travel freeze on individuals or call on countries to reduce diplomatic ties, Luck told Reuters. Other possibilities include granting the IAEA enhanced powers to conduct intrusive inspections in Iran.
| Let's give the toothless tiger a toothbrush! |
Council diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the case was still pending, envision a step by step approach that would very, very, very slowly ratchet up pressure.
| Slowly on a geological time-scale. |
The first move probably would be an appeal to Iran to abide by recommendations from the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, which has sent inspectors to Iran. The council would also ask IAEA director Mohamed ElBaradei to submit a report within a month.
| An appeal, then a report. The MMâ¢'s ae laughing louder. |
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