Posted on 08/26/2006 12:54:04 PM PDT by M. Espinola
US worriedly watches as Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated heavy-water reactor and prepares to implement measures after UN Security Council ultimatum expires this upcoming Thursday. Los Angeles Times: If Russia and China thwart international sanctions, US will build independent coalition to impose sanctions.
Even after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad inaugurated the Iranian heavy-water reactor Saturday, the US will have a hard time convincing Russia and China to support sanctions in the Security Council. Official sources in Bush's cabinet said to newspaper Los Angeles Times that if these efforts fail, the US will try to build an independent coalition to impose sanctions on Tehran.
According to the newspaper's headline report, the countries that will participate in a coalition against Iran will freeze assets and will impose sanctions on commerce with Iran. This upcoming Thursday the ultimatum put forth by the UN to Tehran to halt uranium enrichment within the framework of UN Resolution 1696 will expire.
The US believes that Japan and the European trio - Germany, France, and Britain – will provide the base for international rallying outside the Security Council in the case that Russia and China block the sanctions.
Senior US government officials are currently on vacation. President Bush is with his parents in Maine and even Secretary of State Rice is on vacation. US Permanent Representative to the UN, John Bolton is still working and said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that the US intends to present a resolution to the Security Council for the punishment of Iran immediately after the UN ultimatum expires on Thursday.
The most immediate sanctions will be directed at the Iranian administration, and will not, at this stage, hurt the Iranian people. The American proposal will include a prohibition on the Iranian leadership from traveling outside their country, and a freezing of Iranian leadership's assets outside of Iran. This comes on the heels of attempted sanctions on Iraq, which hurt the Iranian people, but not Saddam Hussein.
Bolton sounded optimistic in his interview saying that Russia and China will agree to impose sanctions after they see the suggested version. Bolton clarified that if Russia and China don't agree to sanctions in the Security Council, American diplomacy is already in action to achieve sanctions outside the framework of the UN.
The Los Angeles Times writes that according to US terrorism laws, the US can impose its own sanctions on Iran, and can, for instance, stop ships carrying missiles and material connected to nuclear production on their way to Iran.
"You don't need Security Council authority to impose sanctions, just as we have," Bolton said. "We will continue to enhance Proliferation Security Initiatives to cut off flows of materials and technology that are useful to Iran's ballistic missile program and nuclear programs. We will be constraining financial transactions under existing terrorism laws."
Bolton clarified in the interview that the US would focus efforts to pressure Japanese and European banks to stop doing business with Iran. This is a hint that the US Treasury Department is holding talks with other countries, which Bolton refused to identify. The Treasury Department reported that they are already seeing the fruits of this effort, including a decision by Switzerland's Union Bank to cut off relations with Iran.
With the likes of Haman Jr, Ahmadinejad, all options must be on the table.
For a number of reasons, we can not afford to goof this up.
(((ping)))
Without the oil $$$ flowing in, Iran's plans for anti-Western global jihad stop. Iran's on going terrorist training, funding & arming for Hamas, Hizballah and Shi'ite Iraqi based killers targeting American & Coalition forces must be brought to an end - and quickly.
WE: Us doesn't speak for everyone.
Economic sanctions mean nothing. They never have and the never will. To think that such sacntions can accomplish anything is to put your head in the sand. In a world where everyone is cutting a secret deal, only force on a large scale will bring the desired results.
In the final analysis it will be US since the bulk of the UN members will not support overthrowing the Iranian régime.
Don't we always end up cleaning up the mess the UN either creates, or refuses to correct?
Iran's euro-denominated oil bourse is another reason.
"Figures from Eurostat showed Iran retained its position as the EU's fourth largest trading partner in the Middle East and second biggest oil supplier in the region after Saudi Arabia."
The only way to stop this fanatic is to use force.
We've had sanctions on Iran for almost 30 years. Obviously, they don't work.
I pinged you to this one from Italy. It mentions a 2005 report.
IRAN: ITALY MUST RELY ON TEHRAN TO BOOST ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST, DIPLOMAT ["Main trading partner."]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1690564/posts
Here is another Iranian related news item:
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.