Saturday, March 24, 2007

Security Council Resolution on Iran   [Mario Loyola]

Resolution 1747 imposing further sanctions on Iran passes unanimously with 15 votes.

Some will sneer at the penalties imposed here — Iran is no longer allowed to export arms, but can still import all it needs. But in fact the rapid isolation of Iran since the IAEA referral to the Security Council less than a year ago is a testament to the brilliant work of John Bolton while at USUN. Once the matter landed on his desk, things moved fast at the UN, and they moved effectively. I don't think many people a year ago would have thought it possible that Russia and China would agree to a Chapter VII resolution commanding Iran to halt enrichment, much less two resolutions imposing sanctions.

Whatever happens next, even detractors of the UN have to admit that this has been a diplomatic disaster for Iran. Meanwhile, this is almost certainly the end of the road for the Security Council strategy on Iran. The Permanent Members have gone as far as they are going to go together in imposing sanctions on Iran — although the U.S. representative just said that "additional measures" would be taken in 60 days.

Whatever happens in the Council next, the next chapter in this story will play out on the waters of the Persian Gulf. Events in the Gulf so far this week:

• French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle joins American battle-groups for exercises in the Arabian Sea.
• Ali Khamenei hints that Iran will abandon the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.
• Iranian navy conducts live-fire exercises in close proximity to American naval forces patrolling the Gulf.
• Iranian Revolutionary Guards seize fifteen British sailors supposedly on patrol in Iraqi waters, but nearby British warship does not interdict the RG raid, suggesting strongly that the Brits were not in Iraqi waters.

03/24 03:45 PMShare