Iran: Illusions of Security Council Consensus?……….
"Reporting from Washington - As many as four countries may refuse to support an expected United Nations resolution imposing new sanctions against Iran, threatening a setback for Western efforts to show a unified international effort, according to foreign diplomats close to the issue. China's dislike for sanctions is well known. But in addition, U.N. Security Council members Brazil, Turkey and Lebanon have signaled that they may abstain from a vote this year on new punitive measures, diplomats say. The sanctions, which would be the fourth round since 2006, are aimed at pressuring Tehran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. A new resolution would need only nine of the Security Council's 15 votes to pass. But the abstentions would be seen as a blow because U.S. officials and their allies want to convince Iran that it faces economic and political isolation if it continues work on its nuclear program……….”
I never expected China, Lebanon, Turkey, and Brazil to actually agree to tighter resolutions on Iran, not of the kind Israel, France, and some in the US want. And we are not talking Russia yet. If some policy-makers in Washington thought they could get Lebanon and Turkey especially to go along, then they better quit and join some lobbyist firms early.
Cheers
mhg
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