Iran and sanctions. When? How? These are the big questions floating around the halls of Westminster and the West Wing. Iranians, in response, are dismissing claims that the major powers will not wait forever for Iran to prove it is not building a nuclear arsenal. The government of Iran, unthreatened by the possible deadline of sanctions, has stated it will not acquiesce to demands to discuss its nuclear rights. Instead Iran continues with its activities within the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
There is growing concern in the West that Iran is using such tactics to win time and placate the major powers, in particular Russia and China, by stringing out inconclusive talks, whilst furthering its nuclear capabilities.Britain is uneasy about the Iranian position.
Increased pressure has been put on Iran with the announcement of a British trading ban on Bank Mellat and the Iranian state-owned maritime carrier because the companies violated UN sanctions by being involved in affairs enabling Iran’s nuclear missile programme. Hilary Clinton, US Secretary of State, has acknowledged that existing sanctions on Iran are leaky and do not have as much pressure on the government as they had hoped. Whilst the steps taken by the British and the Americans have been taken independently of each other, this could change by the end of December. Iran has till then to prove its good faith with its nuclear programme or face sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council, or failing that, a coalition of American, European or other allies
