DEBKAfile: Russia and Germany lean for the first time towards sanctions against Iran to fend off military action
In other words, don't worry about the atom bombs, just keep the oil coming.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that UN economic sanctions against Iran are possible, but pointed to the relevant article excluding the use of force. He was speaking on a visit to Capetown, South Africa. In Berlin, Chancellor Angela Merkel said the international community cannot stand back and watch Iran damage the United Nations by refusing to suspend uranium enrichment. But she too reiterated that military action against Iran is not an option.
Because that might actually solve the problem.
DEBKAfile adds: Both have reason to believe that continuing to keep sanctions off the UN table will increase the danger of the United States and Israel resorting to a military solution to halt IranÂ’s dash for a nuclear weapon as the only remaining option. Sanctions are therefore beginning to look to Germany and Russia like the lesser evil. Meanwhile the start of last-ditch talks on the crisis tentatively scheduled for Wednesday in Vienna is up in the air. IranÂ’s chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani has delayed confirming his attendance at the meeting. On Thursday, senior officials from the six countries which presented Iran with an incentive package to give up nuclear fuel work - Germany, the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia - are due to meet Thursday in Berlin to discuss imposing sanctions.
The only "incentive package" that will have any effect needs to be dropped from a plane.