Time for tougher sanctions

Click here to read the Economist article, "Time for tougher sanctions". This article explorers the political options for trying to deter Iran from continuing its pursuit of nuclear materials. There is a nuclear proliferation treaty coming up for review this year and if Iran can easily deny the international community, the treaty might not be looked upon as having any value. The article dictates that there are two options for dealing with Iran, military action and economic sanctions. Recently the Obama administration tried to reach out to the country to let France and Russia produce nuclear material for electricity generating use, but it was not at all successful. No country wishes for military action, especially considering that the results would be so uncertain and it could simply make Iran more determined to continue perusing nuclear materials as well as turnings its citizens against the rest of the world. Economic sanctions are tricky because you want to hurt the government that is perusing nuclear materials, not the citizens, many of whom do not like their government. China has been upping investment in Iranian oil ever since Western nations started pulling out because of the actions of the Iranian government, but China does not seem to mind. The articles says that inaction is the worst course of action though and that something needs to be done. This article is important because it involves public policy, international treaties and policy, and discusses public opinion of Iran's citizens towards their government. If a country violates international agreements and nothing is done about it, those agreements are certainly seen as potentially illegitimate and a joke. Varying levels of dedication to stopping Iran from the international community has certainly delayed the progress as well. Economic sanctions will have an effect on the citizens of Iran and can possibly polarize them against either their government or the international community, empowering their leaders. How to deal with Iran and other "rogue nations" was also a important point in the recent American elections.
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