US official: new sanctions against Iran unlikely for the time being - WJC

Western countries are unlikely to push for tougher sanctions on Iran immediately, an American official familiar with preparations for upcoming international meetings has told the ‘Reuters’ news agency. The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States – plus Germany are currently evaluating a package of proposals submitted by Iran on Wednesday. The Iranian proposals reportedly include a global push to eliminate nuclear weapons as well as cooperation on Afghanistan and fighting terrorism. However, Tehran has made clear its unwillingness to discuss the substance of its nuclear program.
 
The US official told ‘Reuters’ that Iran's proposals at first glance did not appear to pass "the smell test". "Depending on how Iran's recent proposals for talks play out, leaders will be in a position to take stock and decide on what measures might be appropriate as a next step," he was quoted as saying.
 
Russia, one of the five veto-wielding members of the United Nations Security Council, has already said that the proposals are a starting point and has ruled out imposing oil sanctions on Iran, a step currently being considered by the US Congress. The official said sanctions could not be considered "until everybody is on board. We are not looking for half measures." He added that the UN General Assembly meeting in New York and the G-20 gathering of industrialized and developing nations later this month in Pittsburgh were an opportunity for the world powers to take stock on the Iranian nuclear stand-off. "I doubt there will be a decision to take action at the moment," he said. "There will be in all likelihood some decision on what should happen next."
 
In a public statement, a spokesman of the US State Department said the offer by Tehran was “not really responsive to our greatest concern, which is obviously Iran's nuclear program.”
 
Meanwhile, around 300 Jewish leaders from across the United States, including representatives of the World Jewish Congress, flew into Washington to hold talks with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Senior Congressmen vowed tough action on Iran. "The clock is ticking and in fact, it has almost run out," Democratic Congressman Howard Berman, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Jewish leaders. Eric Cantor, the sole Jewish Republican in the House, said he was "very anxious to see a demonstrated effort on the part of this administration and Congress to do all we can to coalesce with our allies to put as much pressure as possible on the terrorist regime in Iran."
 
"The nuclear threat from Iran already exists. And it is one that we literally cannot live with," warned Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the senior Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. She has co-sponsored a bill which if passed would bar any foreign entity that sells refined petroleum to Iran or helps the country expand its refining capacity from doing business in the United States.