Are Iran's nuclear sanctions fair?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

If sanctions don't work and going gets tough, tough will get going.

It's ayatollahs' choice.

Why are there no sanctions against Israel?

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It would be interesting to know which country abstained and why.
Sanctions much stronger than this need to be implemented; oil embargo for example.
in light
supajohnny

These (4th round of) sanctions have been imposed against a country which threatens the supremacy of Israel in the ME. Israel desperately wants war with Iran and are using the UN and their mates the US to intervene to make it all look legitimate. It is ironic though that Israel has (roughly) 200 nukes and has not declared them! Isn't it strange that the West supports them right?

IMHO if Iran had nukes then there would probably be a forced peace in the region since Israel would be forced to make peace with its neighbours because it will no longer have military supremacy and there would be a real fear of M.A.D.

Oh and please don't let posters spam us with the 'Iran threatened to wipe Israel off of the map' line as this was a mistranslation and a twist of words.

Iran has survived so far with the existing sanctions therefore i do not see why Iran would suffer from the new sanctions. To me they only just reaffirm that the US isn't interested in peace.

Not with the still-expanding state of Israel ignoring a host of UN resolutions, including resolution 1860 on the blockade of Gaza. And not with Dimona churning out weapons grade uranium since the 1960s (whisper it quietly or you may end up like Vanunu). It is all reminiscent of the build-up to the war in Iraq - manufacturing UN resolutions against an enemy of Israel whilst the USA simultaneously wields its veto on behalf of AIPAC. Reforming the UN Security Council is long overdue.

Laugh out loud. What a dumb question.

Israel flouts more UN resolutions than all of the nations of the world combined and commits massacre after massacre and will be rewarded with more than $3bn of American taxpayer's money again this year.

Iran hasn't actually done anything wrong and gets UN sanctions imposed on it.

As the Americans would say, go figure...

The first4 comments is sensored!!
I am an ARAB not IRANI.I think IRAN have every right to develop her nuclear power including having the bomb to deter the invaders of IRAQ and afganistan with a bias and double standard turning blind eye to ISRAEL capability and with an EYE on IRAN OIL.May GOD help NAGAD.{name means helper].Hope this comment is ok with sensors!

US HYPOCRACY knows no bounds!!

In the UN Security Council Susan Rice provides the basis for sanctions:... "the government of Iran has chosen clearly and wilfully to violate its commitments to the IAEA and the resolutions of this council." Why is the US silent when it comes to those resolutions clearly and wilfully violated by Israel? Why is the US silent when Israel refuses to even join the IAEA?

The US only diminishes its credibility and makes its motives suspect when it shows such hypocracy.

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Sanctions, no, just bomb the nuclear development sites and keep bombing the sites every time they try to create another one.

Iran MUST NOT have any form of nuclear capacity, now not and at least not until they have removed the complete lunatics who are running that country.

the sanctions are far too soft

Cue mass outrage and whining about Israel while completely ignoring all the other countries with nukes

This is the height of international hypocrisy. The obsession with Iran is staggering, all for the benefit of Israel not to mention access to it’s vast reserve of oil and gas. The BBC and other western media plays right in to the hand of these shameless merchants’ of death looking for the next war hence their next payday, instead of turning this proud independent nation in to a pariah state there should be urgent resolutions calling for a full arms embargo on the state of Israel for it’s bondage of the Palestinian people.

Whether or not theyre fair is the wrong question to be asking ; will they in any way effect the current or future governments ability to progress given they truly do want nuclear weapons, is the question that should be asked.

Complete Isolation didnt stop North Korea, all it did and continues to do was starve the citizens so the leaders could gain waist-line and progress enough to make an undisclosed amount of nukes.

Iraq, under Saddam, sanctions proved ineffective..all it did there was allow him to tighten his grip and, once again, they directly resulted in the starvation and death of many innocents.

It will be interesting to see ten years from now how these sanctions play out. Will Iran build the nuclear bomb? how many innocents will die due to starvaton? and will, eventually, America and NATO invade after the sanctions fail?

Hopefully it wont lead to them acquiring military-nuclear know-how, or innocents starving. a war on the other hand..once a full withdrawal from Iraq/Afghan takes place, its very likely.

The sooner Iran gets its own nuclear weapons the better, it will stop all this hypocrisy from those that all ready have their own stockpiles.

The US Administration is taking directions from the AIPAC lobby and using its unsuspecting allies to help lay the ground work for an Israeli attack on Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities. When these sanctions fail to stop Iran's enrichment activities, and the US knows full well that they will fail, then Israel will be empowered to claim "there was no other choice but to bomb Iran". The history books will record the US role in starting WW3.

"Iran says its nuclear programme is aimed solely at peaceful energy use".

Surely if the programme is peaceful they would be willing to let the inspectors to there job.

Once again the Iranians defies the UN refusing resolution after resolution.TuT,TuT.

The EU should impose an embargo on Iranian goods.

There treatment against the followers of Baha`is and the Zoroastrians is disbicable and the world should condemn them.

Nice to see Turkey sticking there noses in again,they trying to take Syrias place as Irans poodle.


I wonder how many comments are going to have the word Israel in it.

These sanctions are a prelude to attacking Iran which would not only supply oil to the USA but surround Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Israel will make the first move followed by the USA joining in to stop the 'aggressor' and protect all "freedom loving people."
The Brits will do as they are told as they have no choice if the "special relationship' is to be continued.
Strange' that although it is supposed to be the 'United Nations' only a very few of the members have the power of veto.
Obviously the next move will be to invoke sanctions on Israel as they have many nuclear weapons hidden away....will they will won't they?

"
1. At 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2010, ian cheese wrote:

How dare we complain about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Israel already has a nuclear arsenal & is a bully to everyone in the region: this is a classic of double standards! Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!
"

While I understand your point on Israel, allowing Muslims nukes is like allowing white kids in gangs to have guns because the black kids in gangs have guns. Stupid and does not address the problem which is neither should have guns.

Iran's Nuclear program is too suspicious to go unpunished. Any sanctions the UN can agree to implement are definitely fair.

If Iran wants them removed, they should need to allow UN inspectors free range in their country to guarantee that their nuclear program is indeed peaceful. Short of that, Iran has no basis to reject whatever sanctions the UN would choose to impose. Iran's failure to offer that option further indicates the dubious nature of their nuclear programs.

Let Iran give up nukes, and only then let the world embrace Iran as a viable economic partner.

Iran shouldn't overly suffer because of these sanction since that last 3 rounds of them haven't had the desired effect.

The burning question i have is why the US rubbished the Iranian agreement brokered by Turkey and Brazil a few weeks that satisfied the demands of the US? What exactly does the US want if Iran meeting their previous demands is not acceptable - are they changing the goalsposts?

Is it because the US doesn't actually want this enriched uranium deal? Is it because they just want their Shah back in Iran?

I hope it wasn't rubbished simply because the US wanted the credit for it?

Sadly, they are not sufficient. If the West (US, Israel, UK) want to pick a fight with Iran over nukes then do it properly.

What will result is an attack on Iran.

1. At 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2010, ian cheese wrote:
"How dare we complain about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Israel already has a nuclear arsenal & is a bully to everyone in the region: this is a classic of double standards! Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!"

Yes a perfect example of double standards! They already do and Pakistan is a complete basket case! Why should Israel sign the NPT if Pakistan won't? Allowing autocratic regimes a.k.a. "the Muslims" to have nuclear weapons is suicide!

"They only hurt the poor in Iran and exporters world-wide so more jobs go in other countries, So who wins by Sanctions ? The crooks and Terrorist groups.

the islamic world looks with dismay on the resolve displayed by the us and the uk in relation to iran contrasted with their reluctance to confront zionist fundamentalism and their nuclear weapons, and their abuses of human rights in relation to the palestinians in gaza and elsewhere
-do we not understand that legitimacy depends on even-handedness in foreign policy?

Iran is a significant player in the region and attempts by the US to diminish its' role are folly.Isreal drives the campaign out of fear of loosing its'nuclear hegemony .This effort is a replay of the US-UK policy of frustrating Japanese ambitions in the period 1931-41.in Asia.Rigidity ultimately brings an explosion The US is not intellectually equipted to lead on sophisticated issues as its; foreign is often simplistic and too often influenced by domestic politics.Clinton was a poor choice as secretary of state as she had no foreign experience .Obama needs advisors with critical intelligence and knowledge of geo-politics .Bzezinski was the right man.

If the UK vowed to destroy Turkey and it's people (for example), and had assembled a nuclear arsenal, and stepped up it's rhetoric... do you not think it would be prudent for the world to act accordingly and condemn and boycott the UK? The BBC and Europeans are becoming so pacifistic, that they will be voting themselves into extinction in a generation.

So what? What is the UN proposing to do if, as they will, Iran sticks up 2 fingers?

Oh, yes...another cleverly executed invasion, a la Iraq, a la Afghanistan...all controlled by the US, which has zero understanding of the world beyond its borders. Their philosophy being - "if you don't understand it..NUKE IT!!!!!! YEAAAAAAAAAAAHAWWWWWW!"

You have a 42-inch LCD color TV.

Your neighbor(whom you don't like) down the road has a 30-inch black and white CRT TV. He pays his TV license fee regularly.

Even though your TV is louder than your neighbor's, you complain to the authorities to have your neighbor's electrical and water supplies shut down.

You think this is fair? What a stupid question.

Meanwhile, your other neighbor up the road (whom you like), owns a 50-inch state-of-the-art 3D LED TV. Everyone in the neighborhood knows he owns one because he parties and disturbs the neighborhood all night, every night. He neither admits nor deny that he has one. He has never paid his TV license fee.

You should be complaining against this neighbor instead, shouldn't you?

Fair? - It's not a matter of what's fair - it's a matter of WHO can be trusted with Nuclear weapons - (because that is the very real probability) and from Iran's belligerance, rhetoric, threats and actions - especially regarding Israel and Terrorism - Iran cannot be trusted

Is Iran's Society 'fair'? - ask those dissenters who felt the effects of their Governments 'caring' atitude. Fairness or otherwise can only bejudged between civilised States - and Iran has yet to prove it's civility to the rest of the World - AND it's own people.
The rest of the World had better stick together against Iran - or there are going to be some very regretful circumstances.

Looks like hypocrisy, sounds like hypocrisy, smells like hypocrisy, tastes like hypocrisy, feels like hypocrisy. Am I the only one sensing some hypocrisy here?

Does Iran have a nuclear arsenal? No, but Israel does.
Is Iran illegally occupying or threatening to illegally occupy the territory of its neighbours? No, but Israel is.
Has Iran attacked and killed unarmed civilians in international waters? No, but Israel has.
Disgusting, blatant, unacceptable hypocrisy.

The Iranians knew what they signed up for when they signed the NPT.

Is it unfair that some states are allowed the bomb and others aren't? Maybe, but if you feel that way you shouldn't sign the NPT.

"1. At 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2010, ian cheese wrote:

Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!"

Pakistani's are Muslims aren't they?

No the sanctions against Iran are totally unfair.

1) There is no proof that Iran is making nuclear bomb
2) if it is bad to have nukes how comes Israel has it while it is a signatury of the NPT
3) If it is good to have nukes why Iran is not allowed to have it

THIS IS NOT ABOUT NUKES - IT IS ABOUT A CONSPIRACY TO DESTROY A COUNTRY THAT CHOSES NOT TO BE PRO_WESTERN and TO HAVE THEIR OWN WAY OF LIFE

What happened to the far more sensible proposal put forwards by Turkey & Brazil, to exchange Iran's current nuclear material for that enriched to the point where it's useful for power generation in return for Iran's agreement not to do any enriching themselves?

Or is the UN trying to lose whatever credibility it still has by preferring to dictate rather than seek agreements that attempt to suit ALL parties?

1. At 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2010, ian cheese wrote:

How dare we complain about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Israel already has a nuclear arsenal & is a bully to everyone in the region: this is a classic of double standards! Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!


While were at it, give everyone Nuclear capability. Everyone except "ian cheese", he does not want it. I wouldn't be a ian cheese too much anymore, the triglycerides will make you loony.

Yes, the sanctions are more than fair. The bombs will reach Europe before they reach the U.S. and I doubt that they will wait that long as they ( Ahmadinejad's group, I had to look up the spelling) are trying to get the 12th Imam to return. He ( the 12th Imam) may not be too happy with what they did though, he might decide not to come back after all. This president shames Shiite Muslims everywhere, including the many Shiite's and Sunni's I know.

Iran is entitled to a Nuclear Reactor, but it must follow the same rules as other countries do. That's the way it is. Saying that you intend to wipe out other countries for whatever reason is not a good start. Remember, Russia and China also agreed, pay attention.

This is another example of the US-Israel Axis of Lies laden with moral hypocrisy in the wake of the utterly barbaric inhuman Israeli raid on the relief ships bound for the besieged people of Gaza who face terror and abuse at the hands of Israel. Even the Pope called Gaza a mass "concentration camp" and was viciously attacked for it. But the Pope is infallible and he was right. The UN's sanctions on Iran stink of puppetry by the US while never even tabling Israel's violations of international law in the ship incident. This shows that there is only one law operative in the Security Council - Israel's law -as promoted by a weak-kneed totally subservient and shameless US government under the control of AIPAC like a dog on the leash of its master. The forced resignation of Helen Thomas a lifetime senoir reporter at the White House for daring to publically voice her objection to Israel's occupation of Palestine is a indicator of the way the Israel lobby in the US intimidates American journalists and makes a mockery of the Constitutional rights of free speech and freedom of the press. It is alright for the American press to smear muslims, Islam, and countries like Iran with lies and ugly vile words but not a word of criticism is permitted regarding Israel. Nor has a word been written that a US citizen was murdered by Israeli soldiers aboard the Gaza relief ship nor a word from amoral Obama. The sanctions on Iran are trumped up nonsense as was the entire WMD scare over Saddam Hussien. There is a belligerent hostile power in the Middle East but it is not Iran nor Syria nor any other muslim country. The UN has once again proven that it is nothing but a prostitute of superpower politics completely castrated by the US in Israel's interests that have never been the interests of the American people themselves. Kudos to brave Hellen Thomas a true American patriot at least there is one reporter in the entire world who has stated the truth. Thomas has witnessed first hand the hypopcrisy of American administrations in their biased support of Israel as was the 1967 incident of Israel's attack on the USS Liberty. This 90 year old woman has more testicles than Obama has who has been castrated by AIPAC who can only say "meow". Iran has every soveriegn right to develop its own nuclear program even nuclear weapons if it so chooses. What is needed in the Middle East is a nuclear balance of power the only sort of language that arrogant Israel understands.

It will not work, all it will do is harden the Iran governments resolve, and further punish the Iranian people with economic sanctions, the way the situation is being handled it is as if the un and other countries are purposely pushing Iran to the goal of a nuke,

bit funny how news outlets are quick to broadcast the sanctions against Iran but i haven't once seen in the mainstream news that Iran offered to escort aid to gaza with its revolutionary guards navy,

surely that is a more pressing issue?

since both Israel and Iran have very aggressive governments, if Iran does send a escort then a big war could be on the brink of bursting out, as usual the bbc's priorities are all wrong but im not surprised one bit.

Western hypocrisy at its finest.

The UN should rescind all sanctions at once and pay reparations to Iran for the damage it has already inflicted on its populace.

Iran should continue developing its nuclear program, heedless of the pressure placed upon it by the murderous Western tyrants.

The Western nations must immediately withdraw their armies from the Middle East. They must withdraw all aid and financial assistance as well.

The Western world must realize that it is in a period of unprecedented demographic transition. Its reprehensible actions now may cause violent retribution from its own citizens in the near future, which may result in innocent casualties, just like Western activities in the Middle East are causing thousands of innocent casualties and immeasurable strife.

Cease the senseless violence, open all borders, ease immigration restrictions, stop the racism and discrimination, and enjoy the myriad benefits of multiculturalism and racial harmony.

Islam is the religion of peace, knowledge, and freedom, after all. Ordinary Muslims have much to offer the world, if only they weren't stereotyped and marginalized as religious extremists!

Sanctions on Iran will lead to a new controversy.

To cover the short distance it is not necessary to go around the globe.

The mindset of Iranian government and people are two different matters. US cannot have a pro US government in Iran unless peace is not achieved in Middle East Region.

A direct dialogue between UN representative and Iran can find a middle way, as sanctions will enhance anti-American sentiments in Iran.

Iran's president actually seems to enjoy being provocative with their nuclear development programme and extremely hostile towards Israel. As such America and the U.N. must impose strict sanctions but who knows whether they will work or simply "up the anti"? One thing is certain and that is that Israel will not allow any serious threat to its security and will strike long before it is threatened with a possible nuclear attack.

The goal should be:

** Replacement of the Iranian theocratic regime with the help of Iranian people***

Delaing Iran NUC will not stop this regime to fulfill their object of Shia type worldwide domination

The NUK is only a tactical tool helping the theocrats to achieve their ultimate goal.
Following few examples:
1: Iran ideology:
Export Islam until the entire world will be one mighty caliphate
Iranian leaders are openly declaring for the last 3 decades that:
The final battle has begun—Iran dogma will be the only survival and rule the world-- Iran is preparing for the final battle
*In lectures delivered by Prof Bernard Lewis, number 1 expert on Islam world wide, he warns the world of the apocalyptic mindset of the Iranian leaders.
2: Iran anti liberalism and democracy ideology:
Iran leaders' during the last year, have said that liberal democracy is on its last legs
3: Iran is the main terror supporter for the last 3 decades
4: Iran policy to non Islamic religions example.
Teachers were convicted of the crime of teaching Bahai religion and hanged up
5 ;Women lows:
*Virgin women to be executed is raped by a guard ahead execution
The guard goes to the women family declaring himself as son in law

If I was the leader of a country with a population of nearly 75 million
sitting on the world's third largest oil reserves as my sole means of wealth, I would take steps to protect my country. In fact, I would be reckless not to do so.

Iran has two neighbouring nuclear powers, India and Pakistan. India has a record of relative stability and is busy building up its economy. Its nuclear capability defends this status and nobody complains. Pakistan is a whisker from being a failed state and, with its nuclear capability
and rising power of the nihilistic al qaeda/taliban elements, is a serious threat to the region.

Further away is Israel, with possibly the third or fourth largest (160-200) nuclear warhead arsenal in the world. To say that Israel is a stable country with no territorial ambitions is to deny history as Egypt, Gaza, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon will show. Israel is furious with the UN and the USA for allowing repeated sanction busting by the Iranians to the extent that a preemptive strike by Israel is no longer a sound option. The Iranian deterrent appears to have worked.

Iran is a sovereign state, whose policies domestic and foreign, many people find distasteful. But the same could be said about North Korea and, depending on your political stance, the USA. Iran has a perfect right to develop weapons to defend itself and its wealth. That's what countries do. The skill, so far lacking among Western nations, is to develop a dialogue, use diplomacy and stop trying to force 75 million people against the wall. Remember, Iran needs friends, if only to buy the oil it produces.

Let's try to understand these things instead of charging around with post-imperial ideals. Further sanctions, like most sanctions in the past, will achieve nothing.

I doubt very much that these sanctions will deter the Iranians, many of whose people live a basic, agrarian life, based on just the bare necessities of life. What they will do is add to the resentment, building up in the region, against the 'consumer' states of the West and add further to the hostility against Israel, perceived as living hand in glove with the US.In the final analysis, should Iran develop a deliverable nuclear weapon - and Mossad will know when they do -the Israelis will act. I do believe that nuclear war in the Middle East now is bordering on the inevitable - Armageddon - as preached in the Jewish Holy Books.

So I guess Israel having power doesn't warrant sanctions?
Surely the rouge Middle Eastern state at the minute is Israel?

If these are to be accepted, surely they need to be applied accross the board.
Iran, using Israeli statements could argue that they are only defending their own borders??

Its unfair considering nothing has been said about Israel and she opposes a nuclear conference..why should Iran not have the nuclear bomb? May the force be with Iran....the US is such a bully

Is this probably the funniest question ever.

Iran is being punished for what exactly? Might it be because they are an Islamic state, is it because they are not friends of the West? Is it because the US and Britain will be afraid to attack for fear of the consequences?

Why shouldnt Iran have a deterrent even if that IS their real aim? Nothing exemplifies better why they would want to pursue a deterrent than the fate of Iraq,a society destroyed on the basis of similar WMD lies.

The rogue state that is Israel is allowed to kill civilians in internataional waters, is allowed to assasinate opponents in other countries, is allowed to commit war crimes in Lebanon and in the Occupied Territories, is allowed to invade a sovereign nation and what sanctions have been imposed on this truly terrorist state?

This is a cruel joke. No sane person can come to any other conclusion than there is an ulterior motive to the treatment of Iran in comparison to the treatment of Israel.

In a fair world it would be Israel that would be facing stiff sanctions as they are the only aggressors in the Middle East.

It's a stupid question and a topic to begin with.Iraq in the 90s suffered,the mortality rate for chikdren was 5 years of age,food became scarce,water and basic necessaties.The U.S.is systematically murdering innocent people around the world,the govts in these countries like Iraq,Iran and N.Korea are probably also involved but mainly the U.S.has a sinister idea with the backing of the entire civilised world to depopulate the region for the betterment of western societies.
Israel keeps getting away with murder,has nuclear weapons,murder innocent Palestinians on a daily basis and the western world is sitting idle,what is wrong with this picture?..

First sensible comment I've ever read from #8.

Iran's actions are speaking louder than the UN's words.

And as for the eloquent but ineffectual Mr. Obama's claim that the Iranians are "hiding behind outlandish rhetoric" and that "words should mean something", has the man no shame or simply no sense of irony?

Double standards again and again the United Nations is not a universal body anymore , it has become a tool for the US and Israel to legitimize thier political ambitions

There are 223 UN resolutions against Israel that they did not comply with and the West doesn't care. Just click on the following link link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_Nations_resolutions_concerning_Israel

If Israel doesnt comply, why Iran should comply?

UN is just INSIGNIFICANT and UNFAIR!

The sanctions against Iran are absolutely correct. Nobody in their right minds wants this vicious regime to get anywhere near a nuclear bomb. The solution is quite simple, once Iran abandons its nuclear ambitions, then the sanctions get dropped, seems perfectly fair & reasonable to me.

At 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2010, ian cheese wrote:
How dare we complain about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Israel already has a nuclear arsenal & is a bully to everyone in the region: this is a classic of double standards! Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!

_________________________________________________________________________
Pakistan, a Muslim nation already has a nuclear capability.

Give nuclear capability to Iran also, and we might as well start preparing for the outbreak of World War 3.

The thing is, whether or not Iran is making nuclear weapons, the "west" wins in either situation.

If they are trying to make a bomb, the government has lied to its people and the world, and brought sanctions on the country over something that was supposed to be peaceful and help the nation develop. The current government loses legitimacy, and the reformists gain support. Should the reformists take control, the nuclear weapons would then be disarmed. Should theocratic government remain, the weapons may still be disarmed for the many imams and scholars who have placed bans on such weapons for their moral unrighteousness and evil. Either way, the country will not use the weapons, because it will never get to the state where it can actually launch one, due to a NATO invasions or a rogue nuclear state (Israel) launching pre-emptive strikes against Iranian facilities, followed by a NATO invasion to save Israel, resulting in a pro-western government in Iran.

If the pursuit is truly peaceful, then the government has hurt its country over nothing, there is no threat, and everyone forgets about the issue.

"7. At 5:35pm on 09 Jun 2010, KongKing wrote:

Reforming the UN Security Council is long overdue."

Why stop at the security council? We have countries like Saudi Arabia and China in the UN human rights council! the UN is a joke and doesn't have any authority.

Only functioning democracies should be allowed to be in the UN.

Of course they are not fair. All the permanent members of the Security Council are Nuke club members and even in the middle of our financial problems UK is trying to upgrade (not create) its Nukes. Israel threatens and bullies all around them and has many Nukes but Iran merely continues to say they are not building Nukes. To those who say Iran can't be trusted, it wasn't Iran that talked of Saddams weapons of mass destruction - Cue doomy music. Who is in the wrong

That day will come when sanctions are imposed on the U.S.by the Chinese and American kids will starve and won't have water to drink.
That day will come because the Chinese and even the Indians are steadfast in competing against the U.S.in everything possible,i know the U.S.is far more superior in technology but China is not too far behind.
With the U.S.debt in trillions,there are only two ways to payback create more wars and invade sovereign defenseless nations.
How long will people put up with that,not for long.
The U.S.will have crisis within the U.S.
Stop the hyppocrisy and stop helping Israel,help Iran so it can help it's neighbours.Iran has oil,what does Israel have?besides stolen Palestinian land and olive groves.

The sanctions are the minimal thing to be done.

The only effective thing to be done, however, is a total military blockade of Iran. Nothing in or out, of the country, whatsoever.

Its bit like the pot calling the kettle black. Iran is no worse than Israel in the way it behaves so a plague on both their houses.As to sanctions-its a joke because we all know sanctions dont work. If and when Iran does actually make weapons then there may be a case to take matters further if their pretty unstable government starts to flex its muscles.Until then just ignore them,it works better than giving them the excuse to shout and scream.

Ian Cheese. A number of Muslim countries have had nuclear capabilities for some considerable time, notably Pakistan. The difference is that Iran is irresponsible and dangerous. In any case, nuclear capability has never been a religious issue.

Sanctions have advantages and disadvantages and at the end of it all its the citizens of the country, especially the children, the elderly and its womenfolk that are seriously affected.
Nuclear programs are existent in many countries such as Pakistan, India and Israel and provide at this time a far greater risk than Iran whose stated position is that there are no plans for nuclear weapon development.
Therefore sanctions should not be imposed at this time.

Any kind of sanctions imposed are useless, US is just apeacing Israel (don't know why?)which it has since last 5 decades. It's the poor Iranian people who have to suffer, the current regime has enough funds to support themselves and their cohorts in crime, rest 80% will fall through the cracks no fault of their own. This is so stupid! the embargos after ambargos without any resolution. You don't need embargos you need a regime change in Iran put your effort towards it and you will see immediate results. I've being reading all the comments and one theme emerged unequivocally "why don't we sanction Israel for their crimes towards the Palestinians? Another armagedon may be well on it's way for the Isrealies.

Are Iran's nuclear sanctions fair?
Ask me this question again afrter Israel signs the NPT.
Ask me this question again after Israel has been inspected as many times as Iran.
What are your views on Iran's nuclear programme?
It is peaceful; Iran has as much right to nuclear power as the United States of America.
Are tough sanctions necessary?
No, they are an excuse, very likely an excuse preliminary to another war against an Islamic country - like Iraq, like Afghanistan. Did I not read recently that Israel has moved submarines into the Gulf?
Should nuclear talks go ahead?
What's the point? The United States and Israel will never be satisfied.
In fact, take war away from the United States military/industrial complex and the entire economy collapses.

OK! for all those asking the question why Isreal is not being punished; you need to do a little reading. I do not condone Isreal's action one bit but the reason why they do not get sanctions or inspections in regards to their nuclear Arsenal Is because they were smart and did not sign the NPT they KNew from the begining that the U.N was a pieace of ..... therefore they can build nuclear bombs with no consequences. same applies for Pakistan, India, and N Korea who withdrew from the NPT.
Now as to the question of fairness, well we all know theat the U.N is the most incompetant deranged piece of system to be ever inhabit planet earth. in its charter it says that all nations should be considered & represented equally. this however does not exist. if that was the case there should be no veto power handed to only five nations. I can go on and on about how the U.N has gross Negligence incorparated as part of the whole existence. we might as well call it United Gross Neglegence.
as for Iran well they are no saint either just as all Nations on this planet. but the question is what right does another nation have to impose their Ideas and tell what another nation what to do and expect the other nation to adhere to it. ask your self the question what is the absolute root cause of this conflict and you will find out that Iran acts the way it does because it has to. Iran is not stupid they are playing by the book the U.N and its scrony Merks want to push Iran to throw the first punch, so they can justify a war. and believe me you any pre- emptive attack on Iran, will unleash the flood gates of hell thus making life misserable for those mostly in the M.E and around the Globe.

Iran needs the bomb to stop threats its receiving from nuclear armed countries! end of story! To see that sell out Obama sit up there and spout of the number of UN laws etc Iran has broke and not mention the US emirate of Israel once was pathetic and shows that they did it again, and put a friendly face in power to brush under the carpet the wars crimes under the last administration, but the axis of western evil is still going strong and threatening world peace via ethnic cleansing of arabs and the promoting of nazi laws in europe and after today the UK has shown its hand in how Europe is going, major civil war based on black or white is what anglo people are striving for!

what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander and if we are going to have sanctions against Iran then we need them against Israel too.

Pakistan went for atomic weapon in mid 70's after India's successful explosion. Then for the next two decade Pakistan and the West had had a long unending debate. But in the end Pakistan could explode its atomic test...Now Iran is going through the same scenario and at the end it will be Iran becoming a new member of the atomic club.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

It's clear that the Arab world trusts the west less and less with each passing day, and, frankly, who can blame them? The justification seems to be that Iran has said it would like to destroy Israel, but the only wars actually being waged are by western nations against muslim nations. (I haven't forgotten that Israel and America claim that Iran is fighting a proxy war, incidentally) This entrenchment of attitudes leads only to violence and bloodshed. What has hawkishness achieved so far in terms of everyone's peace and security, not least Israel's? It's not so long since Iran and Iraq were bitter enemies, Turkey was much more secular, Pakistan was not a largely failed state, and it had fairly close ties in the west, particularly with UK. Guess what all the sabre rattling and military offensives have done? United the extremist elements in the whole muslim world and drowned out the voices for peace. Who in their right mind now thinks that a whole region can be subdued by force? Anyone for another dose of South-east Asia? Once you have alienated people to the extent western, particularly American, policy has, the path leads almost inexorably to more conflict, I fear.

Webb of Deceit wrote:
"Cue mass outrage and whining about Israel while completely ignoring all the other countries with nukes"




Anti-Semites have historically been much more aggresive than others.

That, as a way of explaing the obvious. :)

Re "May the force be with Iran".




Ahmadinnerjacket, is that you? :-)))

I am dismayed either I am completely stupid or the powers that be are not of sound mind If there are any sanctions to be put on any country it is on Israel they are the rogue state of the middle east even our PM gets up and states he is a friend of Israel what is so special about Israel they have broke every rule in the book

The UN no longer has any credibility. Who can have any respect for such a biased setup? The UN is simply a mouthpiece of the USA and does nothing about Israeli aggression. Iran will obtain nuclear weapons in time whether we like it or not. The pendulum is swinging the other way, just as the USA was the super power its obvious China will soon be in that position.

I think fair is the wrong word. The US says Iran is trying to build WMDs but they said the same about Iraq and were wrong so what evidence is being used to judge these allegations. Are we 100% certain that they are being used for some other purpose that what they state or is it merely precautionary because the regime is not pro-Western. Having made one mistake that has cost over 1million deaths in Iraq, I would be loathe to trust the same advice that could result in a similar disaster in Iran.

Pakistan has nuclear weapons so there is already a Muslim nuclear power, and US-imposed sanctions against India and Pakistan were lifted without either signing the non-proliferation treaty nor allowing inspection from the UN. Israel similary has nuclear weapons and hasn't allowed UN inspections.

The attempt to stop the spread of nuclear weapons is a noble aim, but whilst we maintain massive stockpiles it seems hypocritical to stop other nations wanting to develop them. Yes some regimes are mad enough to use them, but remember Macarthur the American General advocated their use in the Korean war (a decision that was refused by the American president who himself had authorised their use against Japan) so it's not just third-world countries that have individuals crazy enough to use them.

We hear it's terrible that African countries that can't feed their people spend so much on weapons, yet we in the UK are facing massive cuts in our lives with the recession and yet still insist on spending billions on a replacement for a Trident nuclear system that we never used nor will use. If we think it is worth cutting back hospitals and schools to pay for it, why do we wonder why other countries want them?

Iran simply will not accept being told by the West what is must do. However, it would consider full inspection of its nuclear program the same day that Israel allows full inspection. Like any other proud country Iran wants respect and Iran does not accept verbal abuse such as Bush's "axis of evil" or the garbage coming from the current Israeli leaders.

powermeerkat wrote:

If sanctions don't work and going gets tough, tough will get going.

It's ayatollahs' choice.

__________________________________________________________________

The thug within couldn't resist a threat. That is what the Israelis used to boast about Lebanon till they had a run in with Hezbullah. By the way all your thuggery could not secure Lebanon's vote in the security council.

The sanctions have nothing to do with Iran's nuclear ambitions.

As with the sanctions imposed on Iraq, their purpose is to weaken the country in preparation for invasion and installation of another puppet regime.

And I have little reason to believe that the braying masses won't fall for the lies all over again.

Learn from Pakistan's experience, if Iran is indeed planning weaponization, there are a lot of Bucks for the Bang.

The play speaks for its self. While all of the permanent veto members of the UN security council are not even keen on disarmament, they put so much pressure on Iran causing more pain to ordinary citizens. Israel has flouted, and will yet evade all efforts to bring its nuclear arsenal to justice, yet America and its allies have remained quiet rendering unwavering support to Israel. Who are these nations deceiving? I believe the power of goodwill will bring Israel, America and its allies to justice, but certainly the imminence of the WW3 draws closer

I don't see the reason for them. The only reason is they Fear weapons are being built? Whatever happened to inspections?

Iran: "Israel must be wiped off the map."

Iran develops nuclear weapons.

The above scenario demands concern.

Why don't the UN and its puppetmaster the USA just mind their own business. Talk about hypocrisy. If sanctions are due on any country, start with Israel, first.

"Are Iran's nuclear sanctions fair?"

Are Israel's nuclear sanctions fair?

Are Israel's sanctions for international piracy and killings of activists fair?

There's your answer, then.

Im leftwing myself but you just cannot have ayattollahs with the Bomb, and this is a despicable regime in Tehran. We should impose sanctions but show solidarity with the Iranian people who want to get rid of this vicious rightwing ultra conservative clerical regime.

Down with Rightwing conservative regimes everywhere I say, have you noticed how it is they who are causing all the trouble in the world?

So the long slow push for yet another war, this time against Iran, continues. Same routine as Iraq, ever more draconian sanctions leading to the ultimate sanction when the US has sufficiently recovered from the economic crisis.

And for what?

Did we sanction Pakistan, India, Israel and North Korea because of their nuclear programs? Maybe Iran should just withdraw from the NNPT and then they would be in the same position as Israel. Then the hypocrisy would be even more evident.

Sanctions on Iran for not abiding by a UNSC resolution.
But no sanctions against Israel for not abiding by a UNSC resolution.
The hypocrisy stinks to high heaven.
Some animals are more equal than others, apparently.

"61. The only effective thing to be done, however, is a total military blockade of Iran. Nothing in or out, of the country, whatsoever."

===

Meaning Start WAR!!!... NO THANKS.. WE ARE AT TWO WARS ALREADY AND NOT DOING SO WELL!!!

During the election days, OBAMA was saying that he will talk to his enemies and try a new approach.. this is why we all elected him...

WHERE IS THE NEW APPROACH? WHERE IS THE CHANGE HE PROMISSED?

Probaly the most sensible ,logical comment i have read in here.

72. At 7:29pm on 09 Jun 2010, truthornowt wrote:
It's clear that the Arab world trusts the west less and less with each passing day, and, frankly, who can blame them? The justification seems to be that Iran has said it would like to destroy Israel, but the only wars actually being waged are by western nations against muslim nations. (I haven't forgotten that Israel and America claim that Iran is fighting a proxy war, incidentally) This entrenchment of attitudes leads only to violence and bloodshed. What has hawkishness achieved so far in terms of everyone's peace and security, not least Israel's? It's not so long since Iran and Iraq were bitter enemies, Turkey was much more secular, Pakistan was not a largely failed state, and it had fairly close ties in the west, particularly with UK. Guess what all the sabre rattling and military offensives have done? United the extremist elements in the whole muslim world and drowned out the voices for peace. Who in their right mind now thinks that a whole region can be subdued by force? Anyone for another dose of South-east Asia? Once you have alienated people to the extent western, particularly American, policy has, the path leads almost inexorably to more conflict, I fear.

"How dare we complain about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Israel already has a nuclear arsenal & is a bully to everyone in the region: this is a classic of double standards! Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!"

Response

I suppose the main difference is that Israel is not promising to use it to wipe out Moslems in Palestine.

1. At 5:12pm on 09 Jun 2010, ian cheese wrote:

How dare we complain about Iran's nuclear ambitions when Israel already has a nuclear arsenal

This has never been confirmed, there is no proof.

If Israel has a nuclear arsenal and does not use it, there is no problem.

If Israel does not have nukes but is thought to have them, there is no problem.

In both cases the thought that Isabel has nukes tends to keep a lid on things. Just as in the cold war the nukes stopped a major war because no one wanted to start one. Hiroshima and Nagasaki scared the pants off every one. Nukes have proven the best deterrent to a major war that man has ever devised.

Israel will neither conform or deny they have nukes.

This debate is not about Israel it is about Iran's sanctions so why bring it up.

Time the Muslims have a nuclear capability!

You must be 3 bricks short of a load. There are countries that can be trusted not to be relay stupid, Iran is not one of them. I believe if Iran gets nukes that they will be used and not necessarily by Iran, possibly some other radical group.

The UN has lost all credibility.

These were the same clowns that instituted sanctions and inspections against Iraq's non-existent nukes.

The same jokers that refuse to condemn Israel's nukes, or the brutalizing of Gaza or Lebanon, or the killing of activists in international waters.

The same jokers who make ineffectual attempts at alleviating world poverty whilst making effective attempts at self-gratification with fat tax-free paychecks.

Worthless people in a worthless organization.

But just to be fair, the Iranians are idiots too. Talk about your nukes after making nukes, like India and Pakistan were smart enough to do. Better still learn from the Israelis who've never talked about them at all.

Nukes may be golden to Iran, but sometimes silence is more golden still.

Otherwise you'll have to deal with the hypocrisy of the UN.

56. At 6:56pm on 09 Jun 2010, excelsior10 wrote:

"Pakistan, a Muslim nation already has a nuclear capability.

Give nuclear capability to Iran also, and we might as well start preparing for the outbreak of World War 3."

-------------------------------------

Give nuclear capability to Iran, and Israel is no longer the all-powerful Middle east bully.

That's why the Americans are pushing the sanctions at Israel's behest.

If Iran getting nukes is the only way to rein Israel's aggressions in, then I hope Iran gets a nuke. Please note that I'm not calling for Israel's nuclear destruction by Iran, as I see no reason for Iran to nuke Israel. I'm talking about levelling the military balance in the region and thus curbing Israel's aggression.

Are the sanctions on Iran fair? No. But Iran is considered the lighthouse of Islam, and the U.S. and Israel want to prevent it from becoming a powerhouse too. But Iran is already a powerhouse, and the news sanctions are just the gravy on top of the previous U.N. sanctions that didn't stop Iran from becoming a power to reckon with in Middle East.

Iran would probably benefit from these new sanctions, because the world will see how the big boys at the U.N. Security Council abuse their monopoly of votes and veto power to advance their interests, and thwart the development of those who do not follow their "diktat." That is why the U.S. oppose the expansion of the U.N. Security Council to keep India and Brazil that it cannot control from becoming permanent members with veto power, while it doesn't oppose Germany and Japan with veto power, which it can control.

The new sanctions on Iran, therefore, are a product of abuse and wheeling and dealing of the big powers to serve their own interests, but not the interests of the international community - as the U.N. Charter Mandates. But most the world's 194 states at the U.N. General Assembly are still reeling with Israeli and U.S. actions in the Gaza quarantine, and they would probably see the new Iranian sanctions as a hijacking of the U.N. Security Council by the wrongdoers!

I have no doubt the U.S. will claim victory, as I have no doubt that the
rest of the world will see only abuse of the U.N. Security Council at a time when the international community is outraged with Israel. And if the Iran sanction were put for a vote before all the 194 U.N. Member States at the United Nations General Assembly, the U.S. wouldn't have been able to gather more that 30 "yes" votes, while Iran would have gotten more than 160 nations on its side. That is why the 5 WWII winning powers grabbed control of the U.N. Security Council, while the other 189 states have become by now just onlookers! And most people in those 189 states, regard the U.N. Security Council as a "cursed anachronism," not as instrument of peace! How the U.N. Security Council Sanction on Iran can be fair when those who decided it represent only 0.025% of the U.N. member states? If democracy is the virtue of mankind, why doesn't that virtue apply to the U.S. Security Council Decisions? Nikos Retsos, retired professor

No, they should be allowed to have nuclear weapons, because Israel does. Allowing Iran to have the bomb will make things fair for everyone.

Anyway, if it wasn't for the West, there wouldn't be any nuclear weapons. So it's all the fault of the West. And Israel, of course.

I'm loving all the comments confusing the Arabs with Iranians by the way! Keep up the good work!

Incorrect decision, keep the I, cross out 'ran' and put in 'srael' and you have the correct decision.

84. At 7:50pm on 09 Jun 2010, Lee wrote:

"Iran: "Israel must be wiped off the map."

Iran develops nuclear weapons.

The above scenario demands concern."

----------------------------

It would be concerning if that's what Ahmadinejad actually said. But it isn't.

Firstly, they were not Ahmadinejad's words, as he was quoting the old Ayatollah.
Secondly, he actually said something closer to "The Zionist regime in Jerusalem will vanish from the pages of time, just as the Soviet regime did". Not quite so threatening, is it?

It is time for the American, Canadian, British, French, German and other western country citizens to stand up against being led into another war. Make sure your leaders understand that war will never again be tolerated on false pretexts. War will never again be used to solve an economic crisis. Never again will brothers and sisters die for the financial well-being of industrialists.

What part of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty do people here not understand?
Pakistan, North Korea, Israel and India are in violation, and have either withdrawn or are non-signatories of the NPT.

Iran has signed and ratified the treaty, however, its insistence on sabre rattling would indicate that it is not a suitable candidate even to have a peaceful nuclear program. Hence, UN Sanctions are now in effect. Any further sanctions imposed are to further punish Iran for its failure to abide by previous UN rulings, and have the worlds support. So yes, I think that they are "fair."

The spoilt child attitude of withdrawing from nuclear talks further strengthens the UN position, to Iran's detriment.