Iran faces nuclear deal deadline

US mulls sanctions if Tehran ignores proposal to send nuclear material abroad.

ahmadinejad nuclear natanz
Iran insists that its nuclear programme issolely for peaceful purposes [EPA]

Kristen Saloomey, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in New York, said efforts were under way to establish a multi-lateral approach to sanctions should Iran miss the deadline.

“Diplomatic sources tell Al Jazeera that the United States is considering a menu of sanctions,” she said.

“Those could be imposed on Iran by the United Nations if they can get the entire five permanent, veto-wielding members of the Security Council to agree to them, or could be imposed unilaterally by the United States and by its European allies.

“As for what sanctions might be considered, the United States is reportedly looking at targeting the oil sector with an eye towards destabilising Iran’s economy.

“Of course, it must tread very carefully here – it doesn’t want to be seen as hurting the Iranian people or interfering in any way in Iran’s domestic affairs.”

‘Targeted sanctions’

Several diplomats said the United States and at least some of its Western partners want to avoid hitting Iran’s life blood – its  energy sector – for fear it would trigger a broad-based Iranian nationalist reaction.  

They also doubt such sanctions would gain the support of China and Russia, which have been more reluctant than the Western powers to impose sanctions.

Karim Sadjadpour, an analyst with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said Washington may target the Revolutionary Guard, which “are managing Iran’s nuclear programme, liaising with extremist groups throughout the Middle East, and  overseeing the brutal suppression of non-violent protesters.”  

She told AFP that punishing the Guard “makes sense because it potentially kills several birds with one stone”, without alienating the Iranian opposition.

Aside from it nuclear disagreement with the West, Iran is facing unrest at home from opposition protesters following the country’s disputed presidential polls in June.

Source: Al Jazeera, News Agencies