Iran Pushes Forward with Nuclear Program

Despite the latest round of UN sanctions, Iran has decided to continue its quest for nuclear energy. President Ahmadinejad announced today that the uranium enrichment program has reached "industrial level." Ahmadinejad also stated that their "progress" is "irreversible," despite the recent condemnation of the program in Resolution 1747. The UN contends that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon, but Iran insists that it is solely seeking the goal of nuclear energy.

In light of this latest announcement, I am left to wonder what UN sanctions really accomplish. Ian Bremmer argues that, at least in regards to North Korea and Iran, they accomplish nothing. He concludes that what is really needed is a country with leverage to force their hand. In the case of North Korea, it is China. With Iran though, there is no country with enough domestic influence to force change. Can the US apply enough pressure? It looks unlikely at this time...