DAR AL HARB / ISLAM - U.S.A. / IRAN: WEAK SANCTIONS ACCEPTABLE TO THE UNITED STATES, WEAKENED INTERNATIONAL STANDING & PRAGMATIC MULTI-LATERALISM

Wary US backs away from strong sanctions on Iran
By Guy Dinmore in Washington

The unanimous UN Security Council resolution imposed on Iran at the weekend illustrates how the Bush administration has made keeping international unity a higher priority than imposing significant sanctions that would materially hurt Tehran.

Washington had to back away from some of its initial proposals, including a ban on all export credits and non-humanitarian financing for Iran, but analysts and western diplomats said the 15-0 vote on Saturday would demonstrate again to Iran its failure to divide the international community over the nuclear issue.

"The US is contenting itself with weak resolutions and a broader international coalition in contrast to Iraq (before the 2003 invasion) when it wanted strong resolutions and got a weaker coalition," commented Karim Sadjadpour, analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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Analysts say the more cautious US approach is as much a product of its weakened international standing since the invasion of Iraq as a real commitment to pragmatic multilateralism.

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A joint coalition statement also repeated the offer of "suspension for suspension" - a hold on sanctions in return for Iran's agreement to suspend its uranium enrichment while negotiations take place.

Resolution 1747 is also significant in that it goes beyond the sanctions imposed in December, which focused on the twin issues of nuclear weapons and missile development, to include a ban on all Iranian weapons exports. It also targets the assets of 28 individuals and entities, including state-owned Bank Sepah.

The US interprets these assets to include all assets held by the Revolutionary Guards, which have developed a significant business presence. The arms export ban is aimed at Iran's military support for Lebanon's Hizbollah, which the US defines as a "terrorist" organisation.


Somehow it does not feel like "weakened international standing" & "pragmatic multi-lateralism", it feels more like COWARDICE to me...


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1) Wary US backs away from strong sanctions on Iran