Wolf Howling: Security Council

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Sanctions With Bite

The UN Security Council has unanimously approved another round of sanctions against Iran. And according to Counterterrorism blog's Victor Cormas, these sanctions actually may bite.

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This today from Counterterrorism Blog concerning the new sanctions just voted out of the UN Security Council in response to Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment:

. . . The measures included in UN Security Council Resolution 1803 appear to go well beyond previous resolutions, and for the first time may actually have some bite.

The new measures reportedly include an unequivocal ban on nuclear and related dual use equipment and technology exports to Iran, as well as the authority to inspect suspect air or sea cargoes destined for Iran. The new resolution also reportedly includes expanded asset freeze measures, and a real travel ban for an expanded list of targeted individuals and entities involved in these targeted activities (as opposed to the "exercise vigilance" over their travel that was contained in previous resolutions). And, it imposes new restrictions on certain export credits for Iran.

Of particular note is a new sanctions provision that calls for increased caution, due diligence and monitoring of dealings with any of Iran's banks. This measure builds on the sanctions measures already adopted with respect to Bank Sepah, and US actions directed against Bank Saderat and Bank Melli, and their branches and subsidiaries based abroad. It also builds on The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) February 28th Statement warning to all financial institutions "to take the risk arising from the deficiencies in Iran's {Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing} regime into account for enhanced due diligence."

The 14 to 0 vote (Indonesia abstaining), and the fact that Libya, Vietnam and South Africa actually voted in favor of the resolution, should bring home to Iran’s leaders that the international community is losing patience and is now increasingly likely to go along with increasingly stern measures to convince Iran to comply. More importantly, Russia and China, for the first time, went beyond mere wrist slapping sanctions, and agreed to impose measures that entail real costs, and dangers, for Iran. Their statements in the Security Council, and their recent actions at the negotiating table with Iran, make it clear that Iran’s leaders can no longer count on them to block additional measures that might be necessary to convince Iran to change course. This development was presaged a few days ago, also, when the signing of the impending China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) deal with Iran to develop the northern Pars gas field was postponed.

Iran's leader should also know that their major trading partners in Europe and Japan are also increasingly committed to take further steps, unilaterally, if necessary, to place increased pressure and sanctions on Iran to prevent them from gaining nuclear weapons capability. . . .

Read the entire post. I must admit that I am very surprised. I did not expect either real sanctions or a unanimous vote, sans the one abstaining member. This is very heartening news. Iran has, of course, vowed to ignore the sanctions, but it changes the calculus the theocracy must now consider as it drives ever forward towards a nuclear arsenal.

An Iranian Saturday

The four sure things in this world are death, taxes, the intent of Iran’s Khomeinist theocracy to build a nuclear arsenal, and the absolute necessity of stopping them. Saturday’s Paris meeting of Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States, all United Nations Security Council members, plus Germany will consider yet another round of sanctions aimed at inducing Iran to halt its nuclear program.

Today saw one last attempt by the EU to gain some concessions from Iran on their nuclear program prior to the Saturday meeting. It was just the most recent in what has proven to be a wholly fruitless attempt by the EU to convince Iran using stern diplomatic language and mean looks. The end result to this charade was more than predictable. Read the story here. Iran is convinced that the West is too weak, greedy and corrupt to take any actions to stop it, be they economic or military.

Certainly nothing the EU has done to this point has given theocracy any reason to doubt their belief. Germany and France, who together are deeply involved in the Iranian economy, have refused to engage in meaningful sanctions. And EU military capability is, sad to say, a bit of an oxymoron.

Nor could Iran be any more correct in their assessment of the US, hamstrung as we are by a wholly partisan Democratic leadership that values power above our national security. We have Obama promising to drink with Ahmedinejad in Tehran if he’s elected. The Democrats are as a group flatly refusing to consider military action against Iran. And today, that constitutional scholar, Joe Biden, promised that he will lead the impeachment of President Bush if Bush takes any military action against Iran.

We could see meaningful sanctions come out of the meaning Saturday, even if China forces the sanctions outside of the UN Security Council by their veto power. Let us hope, as this may well be the last round of sanctions with any hope of keeping the nuclear genie from escaping the Iranian bottle. If not, than Joe Biden aside, we need to be prepared to attack Iran and make them pay a very heavy price indeed. Their's is a regime every bit as evil, expansionist and dangerous as was Nazi Germany. It needs to be treated similarly.