Iran Dismisses UN Sanctions

(USA Today) The U.S. and it's allies on Wednesday pushed through new sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, punishments Tehran dismissed as "annoying flies, like a used tissue." The sanctions target Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles and nuclear-related investments. Oil exports, which are the lifeblood of Iran's economy, are not affected because targeting their oil exports would supposedly cost the U.S. support from Russia and China. President Obama stated that the sanctions placed upon Iran are the toughest they have ever faced. They require several months of difficult negotiations by the five veto-wielding permanent U.N. Security Council members which are the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, and France. Even non-member Germany is part of the process.

This is the fourth round of sanctions aimed at pushing Iran towards serious discussions on its nuclear ambitions. The United States says much of Iran's program is suitable only for building a bomb and not for energy, as Iran claims. "Actions do have consequences, and today the Iranian government will face some of those consequences," Obama said. Obama claims the door is open to diplomacy but said Iran "will find itself more isolated, less prosperous, and less secure" unless it meets its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad dismissed the sanctions as annoying flies, like a piece of used tissue. Tehran claims its program is peaceful and aimed at producing nuclear energy. The U.S. and its allies claim Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons. They desire for Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment program and start negotiations aimed at ensuring that it uses nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes. How can we expect Iran to use its nuclear technology for peaceful purposes when Ahmadinejad claims he desires for Israel to be wiped off the face of the map, for example?

The new resolution bans Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bars Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining and prohibits Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles. Iran already has most of what it needs to make a weapon. "I don't think anybody thinks these particular sanctions are going to trigger Iran to give up its nuclear program," said Sharon Squassoni, a nuclear proliferation expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Iran insisted the sanctions would do nothing.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has no reason to fear that the U.S. or its allies are going to stop Iran from using its nuclear weapons on Israel or any country it wishes to obliterate. Ever since Ahmadinejad has been at the helm of Iran since 2005, the U.S. under both the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations haven't done anything to stop Ahmadinejad from trying to develop nuclear weapons. On top of that, President Obama is a sympathizer of the Muslim nations. Obama hasn't been very supportive of Israel, either. Iran and the Arab world sees that. They're not going to fear the Obama administration. It's all a dog-and-pony show. The U.N. nor the U.S. is going to make it difficult for Iran. If Iran struck Israel today, I can't say for certainty that the Obama administration would side with Israel. The U.S. has become a laughingstock to the world. We're still mired in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Why should Iran fear us? If the United States seemingly can't destroy the insurgency in Afghanistan, then why would Ahmadinejad fear the U.S. is going to stop Iran from launching a nuclear missile at Israel or another one of our allies? The very fact that Iran dismisses the U.N. sanctions as "annoying flies" says that the United States nor its allies don't have the will to wipe out Iran's nuclear capabilities. We're no longer a threat to terrorist regimes across the world. The United States is losing it's status as a superpower. I'm afraid we're in for some dark days ahead.