Unfortunately Iran has failed to comply with a UN Security Council Resolution 1737 which demanded a halt to uranium enrichment.  The deadline was February 21st, and subsequently the International Atomic Energy Agency submitted its report on Iran to the IAEA 35-nation board of governors and the UN Security Council stating "Iran has not suspended its enrichment activities".  Mohammamed Elbaradei's report also said that Iran had failed to cooperate on some crucial issues that raise the possibility of a military dimension to Iran's work.

The reaction from the United States and European countries was swift and they all stated that they would refer Iran back to the UN Security Council for further sanctions and other measures to further the isolation of Iran internationally.  Iranian officials on the other hand have said that Iran cannot accept UN demands for a halt to enrichment as that would be contrary to its rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.  On a positive note though, Ali Larijani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, said that Iran could give the West guarantees that its nuclear program was peaceful if there were negotiations.  Speaking in Vienna he said, "We would give necessary guarantees that there will be no deviation ever towards nuclear weapons."  This is an opportunity for both sides to come back to the negotiating table and reach a solution, and as we have stated before Iran should at least suspend enrichment for now in order to satisfy this precondition to the restart of negotiations.  Otherwise all indications are that if the standoff escalates and Iran pursues its nuclear plans, military action by the United States or/and Israel will become more likely.  That could of course send the entire Middle East on a disastrous direction and lead to worldwide mayhem.  That is why we cannot emphasize enough the importance of reaching a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear program.