UN poised to pass more Iran sanctions

A second resolution, which could come next week, adds an arms-export embargo and more financial measures.

from the March 16, 2007 edition

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The Security Council's unanimous vote on the first set of sanctions shocked the Iranian leadership and caused immediate public debate over the wisdom of the government's confrontation with the international community.

Since then, political moderates have publicly criticized a Tehran approach they fear could lead to economic and political isolation. Two moderate political parties have called on the government of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to accept a suspension of uranium enrichment in order to pursue a solution with the United Nations and avoid increased isolation.

The internal divisions surfaced again this week after Mr. Ahmadinejad suggested that he would like to appear before the Security Council to explain Iran's nuclear program. By Thursday, the leader was lambasting the Council over the second resolution and ridiculing its impact, but he was no longer publicly speaking of a visit to New York.

When asked if some Iranians were reluctant to see Ahmadinejad representing their country on the world stage, one Iranian official in New York said, "If you look at the different reactions in Iran to the president's proposal, you will get your answer." The official, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak publicly, added, "Yes, there are divisions."

Even the country's most powerful leader, the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has cast doubt on the wisdom of allowing the fiery Ahmadinejad to be Iran's face to the world. However, the supreme leader has dismissed any suspension of the uranium-enrichment program.

Going further, some Iranians say the very moment the US seems to have backed off from a confrontational approach to Tehran is not the time to send out the country's head antagonizer. In a much-watched move, the US accepted to sit at the same table with Iran at a Baghdad conference last week.

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