U.S., Russia Deal on Iran is a Waste of Time

The Associated Press, citing British Ambassador to the United Nations John Sawers, reported September 26 that the United States and Russia had reached an agreement on the pursuit of a new United Nations Security Council resolution on Iran for its failure to comply with UN demands to stop the enrichment of uranium.

But it appears that any new resolution will merely be a continuation of past Security Council ineffectiveness. According to the AP story, western diplomats stated that a new resolution would simply reaffirm the three sanctions resolutions already passed and would not contain any new measures designed to change Iran's behavior.

Instead, the new resolution would seek to remind Iran that it has an obligation to comply with UN demands. Never mind that Iran has repeatedly denounced previous UN resolutions and has promised that it would never comply with Security Council directives. While the United States and a few European allies would like to see tougher sanctions imposed on Iran, the reality is that both Russia and China refuse to play ball.

No matter how much the west might like to see additional punitive measures taken, there is no hope of such action without the support of Moscow and Beijing. Both hold veto power in the Security Council, and both have refused to take meaningful action against Iran. Perhaps it's because of business relationships with Tehran. Perhaps the reason is that Russia and China don't see a real threat. Or perhaps Russia and China are simply taking advantage of an opportunity to snub the United States. Whatever the reason may be, it simply doesn't matter. Without China and Russia, nothing meaningful is going to happen.

So while Russia and China are willing to agree to tough statements criticizing Tehran and demanding compliance with UN resolutions, neither is willing to back their talk with any sort of muscle. And without some enforcement mechanism that can be used to gain Iran's compliance, all the talking and threatening rhetoric is meaningless. There is no fear factor present. And without a fear factor, there is no hope of compliance.

If the United Nations really wants Iran to stop enriching uranium, then the five major powers on the Security Council need to come together and resolve to enforce their demands on Tehran. Otherwise, the Security Council lends more weight to President Bush's assertion that the UN risks becoming irrelevant. Of course, Russia and China will probably come around once Iran tests a nuclear device. But by then, it will be too late.