Israel Matzav

Iran sanctions: No bans on Central Bank, no bans on weapons

Western countries began drafting 'crippling sanctions' in the UN on Friday night, and it appears that the only thing the sanctions might cripple is the West's ability to claim that it did all that could be done to stop Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Diplomats at the United Nations were quoted as saying that the United States, Britain, France and Germany accepted Russia’s proposal that the West only ban trading with newly-established Iranian banks, and not increase existing trade limitations with the CBI.

China holds a position similar to Russia’s.

The new UN draft for sanctions against Iran would not put the Islamic republic in a black list of countries obligating all member states to avoid trade with the country, but does allow smaller entities, like the US or the entire bloc of European Union member countries, to implement their own sanctions.

Russia proposed that oversight on trade with Iran be made according to a similar model as current global trade with North Korea.

Additionally, Russia opposes a full weapons embargo against Iran.

A Moscow official was quoted by Israel Radio as saying that the deal to supply Iran with the S-300 anti-missile defense system would go ahead. During a recent visit by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to the country, Moscow promised not to implement a deal to sell the system after Netanyahu convinced the Russians that such a move would destabilize the region.

Anyone want to start taking bets on how long until Israel attacks? Maybe we should do it while Biden's here and let him squirm and say he didn't know.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:20 AM