That's As Far As It Will Go

What makes them think the UN will do anything other than talk, talk, talk, and pass resolution after resolution?

Reuters: Permanent five say IAEA must report Iran to U.N---

LONDON (Reuters) - The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council agreed on Tuesday that the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog should report Iran to the Council over its nuclear programs at the U.N. agency's meeting this week.

The foreign ministers from China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain as well as Germany and the European Union, said after a four hour dinner in London that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) must take Iran to the Council.

"(Ministers) agreed that this week's extraordinary IAEA Board meeting should report to the Security Council its decision on the steps required of Iran," said a joint statement after the meeting between the foreign ministers.

A senior U.S. official said the statement meant Russia and China were now on board with the United States and the European powers that there must be strong action taken by the IAEA in Vienna to prevent Tehran from building a nuclear bomb.

"This is the most powerful message we could have hoped for," said a senior U.S. official, who said the discussions over dinner had been animated.

The agreement of the permanent members appeared to have made a concession to Russia, which did not want the Security Council to be pushed into taking immediate action against Iran.

The ministers said the Security Council should wait for a report expected to be delivered by the IAEA director general at a scheduled meeting in March before taking action.

Originally the United States had wanted the director general's report by this week's meeting.

The United States and other Western countries say Iran's nuclear program is a front for its ambitions to build a nuclear weapon. Iran denies the accusation and says its nuclear program is intended to generate electricity.

Iran insists on its right to nuclear technology and has alarmed the international community by restarting nuclear research previously under IAEA seal. It will be the number one topic of discussion at an IAEA meeting this week.

Despite directing the IAEA to report Iran to the Council the statement did not indicate what the United Nations should do when it actually gets the issue. The Security Council could impose sanctions on Iran in an effort to get Tehran to stop its nuclear activities. (emphasis added)

I'm sure they'll talk, talk, talk, and then pass resolution after resolution, probably including sanctions. Yippie. Such actions were soooo effective with Iraq!