Gary Fitleberg, December 7, 2003

In an international resolution that is good for Iran and all parties -- at least for the time being until a further investigation reveals the true intentions of Iran regarding its nuclear program, whether for peaceful purposes or for weapons of mass destruction, Iran was censured for eighteen years of secrecy and developing a nuclear program under concealment and deception and violating the Nuclear nonproliferation treaty.

IAEA Director General Mohammed El Baradei will have more muscle in policing Iran for weapons of nuclear weapons ambitions. The censure also means that it will stay America’s ambitions to bring the matter before the U.N. Security Council for sanctions. Meanwhile Iran has bought itself time to clean up its act rather than bide time to develop further its nuclear program for weapons of mass destruction. European nations have also bought themselves some time regarding disclosure of their own possible involvement with Iran’s nuclear program.

El Baradei commented, "This is a good day for peace...and nonproliferation" adding the resolution "strengthens my hand in ensuring that Iran's program is for peaceful purposes."

The final resolution was a compromise with a more implicit threat. Basically, it says that if "further serious Iranian failures" arise, the IAEA board will meet to consider actions allowed by its statute -- which include U.N. Security Council action. If the IAEA turned to the council, the body probably would move to impose sanctions against Iran.

A senior U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. was "pretty happy" with the compromise text. The source added that Iran had stopped the covert nuclear weapons program.

White House spokeswoman Clair Buchanan statement that "there is no doubt -- further failures" by Iran would result in Security Council involvement indicates that despite the lack of a direct threat in the resolution that this is still on America’s agenda.

The resolution, adopted by a consensus of the 35-nation IAEA board of governors, did not confront Iran with a direct threat of U.N. sanctions as the United States initially had sought. Key European powers opposed a direct threat, worried that Iran would retaliate by ending its cooperation.

In the end, the world can not afford to make a mistake regarding Iran’s nuclear program, whether for peaceful purposes or for weapons of mass destruction.

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2003 Gary Fitleberg