China, Russia Don't Back US On Iran At UN

You could see this one coming from a mile (1.6 km) away. China and Russia, who both have veto power on the UN Security Council, won't sign on to a US proposed resolution on Iran.

Russia and China have opposed key provisions in a UN draft resolution that orders Iran to curb its nuclear programme.

Both nations object to the use of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, used in dozens of Security Council resolutions for peacekeeping missions and other legally-binding actions.

Although Chapter 7 allows for sanctions and even war, a separate resolution is required to specify either step.

Moscow and Beijing, which have veto power, fear that too much pressure on Iran would be self-defeating or precipitate an oil crisis. Both worry that the US would use a Chapter 7 resolution to justify military action.

Wang Guangya, the Chinese ambassador to the UN, said: "I think we have serious difficulty with Chapter 7 and the threat to international peace and security. These are the basic ones."

He was referring to a paragraph in the resolution's preamble that indicates that Iran's nuclear programme was a "threat to international peace and aecurity".

...

Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador to the UN, said the main purpose of the resolution should be to back the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA], the UN nuclear watchdog.

"It's clear this resolution is not about sanctions because they are not in the resolution," he said. "It is clear that this resolution is not providing legal ground for the use of force. Everybody agrees on that."

Churkin said the use of Chapter 7 "might in fact detract from the strength of this resolution because [it] might be detracting from our goal of supporting the IAEA in its activities in working with Iran."

The resolution, introduced on Wednesday, would compel Iran to suspend nuclear enrichment. It does not call for any other action if Iran does not comply, but the US has made it clear that sanctions would be the next step.

Russia and China are taking a reasonable approach. The resolution at this point should be limited to an order to stop enrichment. Perhaps Bushco can learn something about diplomacy by watching these two ambassadors. Nah. Ain't gonna happen.

Technically everyone should butt out of Iran's business. Iran has signed the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT)which allows Iran peaceful use of nuclear energy, prohibits weapons and provides for unannounced inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), but some sort of resolution is going to happen.

Of course everyone is looking at Iran's oil too. The oil is always a factor.

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