Iran didn't bring the world to an end on August 22nd, but they may have ended hopes of resolving the nuclear crisis without an escalating series of adversarial actions. To no one's surprise, Iran rejected the requirement of uranium-enrichment suspension, instead offering a counterproposal to the incentive package backed by the West:

IRAN yesterday turned its back on an international package of incentives designed to stop it developing a nuclear bomb, paving the way for possible United Nations sanctions against Tehran.

Iran hand-delivered a 20-page document offering a “new formula” to resolve the nuclear stand-off to Tehran-based ambassadors from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and Switzerland, which was representing the United States. ...

Ali Larijani, the country’s top nuclear negotiator, said that the Islamic Government was ready for “serious negotiations”, state television reported.

“Although there is no legal justification for the Security Council’s illegal action, based on [UN Secretary-General] Kofi Annan’s recommendation, we prepared the response to the proposed package with a positive view,” he said.

But a diplomat involved in the discussions told The Times last night that Iran’s response did not satisfy international demands. “As expected, it was neither acceptance nor rejections,” the diplomat said. “They raised legitimate questions they could have raised in July. They know some of the points won’t satisfy us.”

Everyone expected this outcome, which amounts to little more than a punt and a play for more time. Technically, Iran still has nine days to change their mind, as the UN Security Council will not take the issue under consideration again until August 31st. The US will almost certainly push for a sanctions regime, and the UNSC will have few other options left after this display of Iranian intransigence. Ali Larijani attempted to put the most diplomatic face on the response, but it still amounts to a gigantic MYOB.

Will the UNSC have the gastric fortitude to apply sanctions? Larijani probably let Russia and China off the hook with this counteroffer; the two veto-holding nations will almost certainly insist on further talks before any enforcement activity by the UNSC. The French and the British appear resolved to attempt enforcement, even if that means losing some lucrative economic ties to the mullahcracy. However, if Russia and China balk, the French will likely give up as well, and the UK and US will be isolated once again while trying to get the UN to have the courage of its own convictions.

In this manner, it will replay the entire Iraq issue all over again, only this time in less than twelve years. The UNSC teeters on the brink of extinction as it continues to follow the League of Nations playbook. If the UNSC gets stymied in its attempt to halt Iranian nuclear development, then the delay of the past several months may come back to haunt the region if Iran achieves success. In fact, if the UNSC cannot agree to unite against the mullahs in Teheran, they may well push the Anglosphere into military options as the only course of action left to us that have some chance of stopping the Islamic Nuke.

Once again, we have tried to engage the global community to stand fast against nuclear extortion and terror-supporting states. If the global community surrenders again, we hope that the multilateralists among us will finally take notice of the futility in engaging nations too committed to appeasement to act in their own defense, let alone ours.

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