March 21st marked the start of the New Year of 1385 in the Iranian calendar and the festival of Eid No Rouz was celebrated in with much fanfare not only in Iran, but in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Farsi speaking countries of the region.  We would like to wish a happy new year to all and may this year bring more peace, security, and prosperity for Iranians as well as other nations in the region.

Unfortunately this No Rouz also marked the passing of a second resolution by the United Nations Security Council authorizing further punitive sanctions on the Islamic Republic of Iran for its continued intransigence in not stopping uranium enrichment activities.  This time the resolution passed unanimously by the fifteen member Security Council, and Iran was noticeably irritated that other than its trading partners China and Russia, even South Africa and Indonesia who have rotational seats on the Council voted in favor of the resolution.  This sends a clear signal to the government of Iran that the entire international community is now unified against Iran's nuclear enrichment program for fear that it may be diverted to develop nuclear weapons in the future.  The positive outcome of this new resolution, which undoubtedly isolates Tehran further in the world, is that it strengthens the hands of the moderates and pragmatists in the Iranian government who are calling for an end to this impasse with the West.  We hope that these forces will be able to push Ayatollah Khamenei to marginalize the radical elements in the country who believe only confrontation with the United States can allow Iran to achieve its national objectives.  As we have stated before on this page, the best thing Tehran can do now is to freeze enrichment so that it can return to the negotiating table to resolve this looming international crisis which could easily get out of hand given the ever increasing tensions.