Security Council Discuss Lifting Iran Sanctions

Some might say talks between Iran and the P5+1 for a civilian nuclear deal are far from over, and that the deal remains a big if, FNA reported.

Still, that hasn’t stopped the United Nations Security Council members from holding talks about the language of a resolution that would lift the sanctions regime when a nuclear agreement is reached between Iran and the P5+1 (the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany). They are also moving quickly to make the lifting of sanctions legally binding under international law.

This happens just days after the Senate’s Republican leadership penned an open letter threatening to dishonor any agreement the US diplomatically makes with Iran. And that’s not all. The “traitors” are also accusing the Obama administration of putting the UN up to the vote to try to undermine their spoiler role in the talks!

Notwithstanding, the Iran sanctions regime was illegal and void from the outset. After so many years, it’s still illegal, void and counter-productive. There are presently eight NPT-illegal UN resolutions against Iran.

So two important points can be derived from the new development: The first point is that the official comments coming out of the Security Council signal a radical shift from their unjustified stance of the past, with huge impacts in foreign capitals. American officials have been the first to admit the world cannot stop the Iranian nuclear program. They are also the ones that started this whole mess in the first place.

They became the first Western leaders to break a taboo by recognizing that Iran may go nuclear as well. Yes, the Israeli lobby and its Senate Republican friends wouldn’t accept it, but it is fast becoming a fait accompli in Western capitals.

The second point is that it is not necessary to wait for positive signals from official channels in the West to find out more about the Security Council’s new position towards Iran and its peaceful nuclear program. An easier option would be to look for negative signals in furious comments, such as those from the US Congress and Israel.

Taken together, hence, the main message hidden in the Security Council’s decision to lift sanctions is that the West has come to terms with the idea of Iran going nuclear, and that the Congress’s anti-Iran rhetoric is superficial. Otherwise, Western oil giants and carmakers would have never started holding talks about returning to Iran’s lucrative market, or Western governments would have never made the official announcement that they are prepared to expand diplomatic ties with Tehran.

Lest there is any doubt, this is the first time that the UN Security Council has been quick to lift sanctions on any nation. Deep inside their minds, perhaps, they are confident they have sent an important message to Tehran: That Iran has every right to master civilian nuclear technology and that they are more than happy to distance themselves from the “traitors” at the US Congress – and Israel.

Deep inside their minds, they are likewise confident they were wrong from the outset to reiterate Israeli lies and accusations that “Tehran would soon take the next step and build the bomb.” That “soon” never came after two decades.

R.S