Diplomats said that senior foreign ministry officials from Britain, the United States, France, Russia and Germany had reached agreement with China during a conference call.
“It has been agreed with China to start drawing up sanctions on Iran,” an envoy said. “Drawing up of a Security Council resolution is to begin in the next few days.”
But hold on there, before you pop the bubbly to celebrate the benefits of big-brained, nuanced talking:
Diplomats say China has been slowly and reluctantly falling in line with the other powers involved in the negotiations on Iran by backing the idea of new UN sanctions against Tehran, though Beijing, like Moscow, wants any new steps to be weak.
They say the four Western powers would like a resolution to be adopted next month, before a month-long UN conference on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in May, but acknowledge that negotiations could drag on at least until June.
“This is a big victory for the United States and the Europeans,” said a diplomat. “China has taken great strides.”
Huh. China finally agreed to weak sanctions on Iran. Perhaps in June. Maybe.
Funny how one small step for a veto-holding Security Council member is portrayed by diplomats as a giant leap for the international community in halting threats to the international community.
A few more big victories like this, and we shall all be ruined.
