The P5+1 (the U.S., England, France, Russia, China and Germany) met again today in an effort to hammer out a third round of sanctions against Iran. Quite predictably, the results have been less than stellar.
Administration officials are attempting to put a positive spin on the diplomatic deadlock. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has called the differences between the parties merely “tactical.” The reality of the situation, however, is quite a bit more grim; in the wake of the new NIE, U.S. policy toward Iran is all carrots and no sticks, something that Russia and China – which are two of Iran’s key economic and strategic partners – know all too well.
