Negotiations With Iran

It looks as if, at least for right now, France is sticking to the demand that Iran stop enrichment activities before any negotiations start. Russia and China, however, are not at all on board. (Not that I have any confidence that France won't do an about face, either).

Diplomats from Europe, the U.S., Russia and China were poring over details of Iran's counterproposal to a Western nuclear incentives package Wednesday a day after Tehran presented it. Initial comments from Russia and China made clear the United States is likely to face difficulty getting at least those nations to agree to any tough sanctions against Iran.

In Paris, however, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy made clear that his government was sticking by the U.N. demand for Iran to halt enrichment by the end of this month as a precondition to further talks.

"I want to point out again that France is available to negotiate, and to recall that, as we have always said … a return to the negotiating table is linked to the suspension of uranium enrichment," Douste-Blazy said.

However, Russia's Foreign Ministry said it would continue to seek a political, negotiated solution to the dispute with Iran over the nuclear program. China appealed for dialogue, urging "constructive measures" by Iran but also urging other parties to "remain calm and patient, show flexibility, stick to the orientation of peaceful resolution and create favorable conditions for resuming talks as soon as possible."

In London, a British Foreign Office spokesman predicted "some hard discussions" when the U.N. Security Council takes up the Iran issue in the coming weeks. He spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity under British government regulations.

What may well be one of the last opportunities to stop Iran without a war is looking shaky at best. The world will pay a terrible price for this diplomatic dithering. The fact that the UN threatened sanctions are now at risk shows just how ineffective the UN really has become.