U.S. Faces More Delay on Iran Sanctions

The ever frustrating U.S.-led quest for stepping up economic sanctions on Iran in response to its defiant nuclear stand is poised for yet more delays.

That was the clear implication of remarks today by France's ambassador to the United States, Pierre Vimont, in Washington. France, along with Britain, is a key partner in the diplomatic effort to ratchet up pressure on Iran for refusing to suspend its nuclear work, a move that has been set as a precondition for launching full-on talks on the nuclear issue, security problems in the Persian Gulf, and other political questions with Iran.

Vimont, in remarks to the Middle East Institute, pegged two new sources of delay. First, some of the new, nonpermanent members of the United Nations Security Council are not yet on board with even the relatively mild increase in sanctions that apparently have been agreed to by the United States, France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China.

"This may take some time," Vimont said. "There is more work to be done."

Second, some members of the Security Council—not identified by Vimont—want to wait at least until the end of February to see whether Iran will satisfy the demands of Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency, for greater cooperation and adequate explanations on questions about Iran's once secret atomic work in the past. As such, Vimont's remarks represented an unusually candid assessment of the slow diplomatic work on Iran. Vimont called for standing firm on the demand for suspending Iran's nuclear work—but also for more flexibility on reaching out to Tehran with offers for civilian nuclear assistance and talks about strategic disputes. He backed increasing sanctions in response to Iran's stand. "Sanctions are biting, but they're biting slowly," he said.

Vimont predicted the Security Council would ultimately come together on the next sanctions resolution, but his overall assessment is not likely to hearten those officials, including in the Bush administration, who are trying to turn the screws on Iran.

"So far," Vimont said of the diplomatic campaign, "there has been no result."

—Thomas Omestad