The Security Council "statement" criticizing Iran's continued "detention" of 15 British Royal Navy sailors is only the first step in what may turn into a major diplomatic attack by London, say U.N. diplomats.
"Major diplomatic attack"... oh, nevermind.
The watered-down statement, unexpectedly accepted by British Ambassador to the U.N. Sir Emyr Jones Parry late Thursday, while criticizing the Iranian move, only demanded immediate access to the soldiers by British consular officials. It did not address the claims and counter-claims about whether the Royal Navy violated Iran's territorial waters.
However, on Monday, the UK assumes the monthly rotating presidency of the Security Council, followed by the United States in May. During April, London will be able to control the Council's "program of work," putting itself in a central position to use the U.N. body to exert even more diplomatic pressure on Tehran.
The feeling among Council diplomats was that the Thursday statement on Iran was approved by the British not so much for what it said, but more for use as a "springboard" for harsher measures should they be needed while it chairs the U.N. body. |