World Powers Agree on New Iran Sanctions

Crossposted from Conservative Thoughts.

From Breitbart/AP:

U.N. ambassadors from six world powers agreed in principle Wednesday on a proposed new package of sanctions against Iran and were expected to introduce a resolution to the Security Council on Thursday if their governments approve it, the U.S. ambassador said.

The package still needs to be considered by the 10 non-permanent members of the U.N. Security Council before it is approved. However, an agreement by the five veto-wielding permanent members of the council and Germany would be a strong signal that the key nations on the U.N.'s most powerful body want to send a united message to Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.

"We have an agreement in principle based on some additional changes that were introduced and presented today by some delegations," acting U.S. Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said. "So it's new elements and understandings that need confirmation from capitals. But it is a package approach that, if approved by capitals, would be essentially the way forward in a resolution.

As I posted here; the original text of sanctions against Iran had several items that reportedly have been removed in order to reach agreement of the 5 permanent members plus Germany (current holder of EU presidency).

The previous list of sanctions included:

The proposals include an arms embargo, trade restrictions, a travel ban and an extension of an existing list of firms and individuals whose assets would be frozen. (source)

But China objected...

to a list of Iranian officials, groups and companies subject to an asset freeze and other sanctions, saying the three-page list was too long.

"The main objective is our concern about Iranian nuclear and missile activities," Wang told reporters. "So there is no need to expand beyond that area."

For Western nations, particularly the United States, the goal is precisely to broaden the sanctions to the economic field and not just nuclear work. (source)

and Russia objected to Iranian Revolutionary Guard being listed...

Mr Wang said that Russia was unhappy with the specific naming of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on the list of those whose assets would be frozen. They feel it is an institution in Iran and you don’t penalise an institution,” Mr Wang said. (source)

The new text is reported include:

Proposals for the resolution also include a mandatory arms embargo on conventional weapons Iran may export and a call to governments and international financial institutions to voluntarily restrict new loans to Iran.(source)

But now excludes:

mandatory travel ban on key Iranian officials is no longer in the text. Nor are restrictions on credits to firms doing business in Iran. (source)

I also believe the three page list of firms and individuals has been shortened significantly in order to get agreement from the Russians and Chinese. The sanctions would be suspended if Iran complied and returned to negotiations.

Iran responds:

Despite Ahmadinejad's comments, Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said his government favored a diplomatic solution. Iran could boost cooperation with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog if current sanctions proceedings at the Security Council were dropped, he said during a visit to Slovenia.

"We do believe within three, four weeks we can reach some comprehensive solution," Mottaki said.

That was unlikely to satisfy Western powers demanding Iran suspend uranium enrichment as a precondition for broader negotiations which they say could lead to major trade and diplomatic benefits for the country. (source)

Translation, we will not comply with resolution 1737 and will continue to enrich uranium. If you want to talk to us YOU have to stop sanction proceedings first and we will STILL not stop uranium enrichment. We will then talk, talk and talk some more attempting to keep you busy but resolve nothing, all the while we will be completing our uranium enrichment program.

If you believe Iran, through negotiations, could be persuaded to comply. Here is something that shows Iran intent to stand firm even in the face of sanctions.

From Newsmax:

Iran on Monday issued a bank note with a nuclear symbol in a move seen as an assertion of its national will in the face of international sanctions over its insistence on enriching uranium.

Iran had no intention of complying with U.N. security council resolution 1737 nor do they have any intention of complying under the burden of sanctions. What are the consequences for non-compliance? I hope these U.N. Security council members discussed the next steps; Iran is going to force the U.N. to use them.