A resolution passed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday, which rebuked Iran for building an enrichment site in secret, should serve as a stark warning to the country’s leaders – not just for its strong words, but also for its adherents. The resolution, which was passed 25-3 (Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia voting against), calls for Iran to clarify the purpose of the recently disclosed Fordow enrichment side, immediately stop construction and confirm there are no more sites being kept secret.
While it is largely a symbolic gesture, it is the first such declaration since 2006 to be backed by both Russia and China, and shows that the countries Iran can count on for unwavering support are rapidly declining. Moreover, while it is unclear yet whether the two countries would back UN sanctions against Iran, their decision to support this resolution suggests that the probability of this outcome has only increased.
Whatever sympathy that existed for Iran at the beginning of talks with Western powers has gradually dissipated – due primarily to a lack of transparency, and to an inability to express any notion of consistency.
This inconsistency and vagueness in the Iranian position leads to questions over who is making the vital decisions, and in turn affects how the West approaches them.
Iran’s secrecy regarding the construction of enrichment sites was taken as a sign by its detractors that they were seeking more than just civilian power. The apparent about-face by the Iranian leadership in their response to plans for a third-party to enrich its uranium left little doubt, in the US especially, that Iran was merely playing for time. Iran’s announcement on Sunday that it was to build a further 10 new enrichment sites will almost certainly generate more ire and condemnation.
The product of this ill-advised crescendo of belligerence has been the formulation of a consensus within the international community with regards Iran’s nuclear intentions – suspicion being the word of the day. With the backing of Russia and China, a now emboldened IAEA constitutes an entirely different beast from the one Iran first faced.
Many describe as hypocritical demands from powers who themselves have nuclear weapons, which is indeed a valid response. But the issue here is what can be done to diffuse the situation. If Iran seeks only civilian power, it has no need to behave so furtively and with such opacity.
The hypocrisy of Western foreign policy is an important issue, but surely not as important as the fate of 72 million Iranians who would suffer greatly from further sanctions.
Iran should take heed of its friend’s guardedness. This policy brinkmanship cannot continue in the face of a more unified international community, and the time for a negotiated solution is running out.
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