Prospect of Iranian sanction gathers pace

21 May 2010, 18:00 PM

A new phase of discussions over how to impose sanctions on Iran for its continued pursuit of nuclear teachnology for military means has opened ahead of a crucial review conference set for 3 May in New York of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which Tehran is a signatory. Meeting in Bejiing with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, the EU's top diplomat, Catherine Ashton, said that talks had progressed beyond whether or not to impose a fourth round of economic punishments against Tehran despite Chinese reluctance to do so. Ashton said it was now a question of what measures should be imposed. Targeted sanctions focusing mostly on holdings of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as well as senior individuals believed to be most involved with the nuclear issue have gained considerable traction at the impetus of the United States and its Security Council partners France and the UK, as well as Germany. China and Russia have traditionally opposed such measures, owing to foreign policies that for the most part shun sanctions at the UN level as well as to their considerable financial and economic ties with Iran, which is still a major oil producer. In a statement released on 28 April the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that it did not "oppose a twin-track strategy" that continues to pursue diplomatic dialogue while also discussing sanctions. Wen's comments in his meeting with Ashton reflected that statement, she said. With the prospect of waning support in the Security Council, Iran has made some international overtures, while still falling short of the international demands that it halt its nuclear enrichment programme. Tehran has insisted that its intentions are civilian in nature, despite mounting evidence to the contrary. Recent exercises in the Persian Gulf as well as an Army Day parade that featured mock-ups of missile defence systems have only added to international concerns - reflected both at the Security Council as well as in the region - about Iranian intentions. A senior member of the Iranian delegation to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told Jane's that Iran has, in principle, agreed to allow IAEA monitors greater latitude in inspecting and observing activity at the enrichment facility at Natanz. Iran has also agreed to some, but not all, of the oversight the IAEA had asked for, the delegate said, although enrichment activity will neither be postponed nor interrupted for want of monitoring. Iran began to enrich uranium to 20 per cent in February. In early April Tehran produced 5 kg of 20 per cent material, which is to be converted into fuel rods for research reactors. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was in Vienna on 25 April for discussions with the IAEA, following up repeated requests by the nuclear watchdog for further information about the activities at Iran's two known nuclear enrichment sites. Senior Iranian military officials have in recent weeks confirmed that the development of a third site was under way. The trip to Vienna had a corollary benefit as Austria is currently serving as one of the 10 non-permanent members of the Security Council. Meanwhile, preparations continue for the five-year review of the NPT. Some 30 foreign ministers are expected to attend the meeting at UN headquarters in New York; Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has applied for a US visa so that he, too, may participate. Janes Defence Weekly.