International Community Prepares Sanctions on Iran

Reports that Iran has begun enriching uranium at Fordow, a fortified nuclear site, has raised concern in the International community and may push countries to impose stronger sanctions. The enrichment is a direct violation of Iran’s agreements with the United Nations, and has prompted the United States, European Union and Japan to consider the strongest sanctions and embargoes. The US and EU have had concerns that Fordow would be used to develop a nuclear weapons, while Iran dismisses these concerns as being politically driven. Tensions between Iran and the western world continue to escalate as the US moves to impose sanctions on Iran’s central bank, and the EU pushes for oil embargoes. The EU is collectively the second largest importer of Iranian oil, and are now currently locked in talks to discuss how to phase out its Iranian oil deliveries.  Iran has retaliated with its own threats to “[block] Gulf oil shipping lanes vital to the global economy.” The UN has announced that International Atomic Energy Agency officials will soon travel to Iran to inspect Fordow.

Meanwhile, “an Iranian opposition group said it aimed to create a national council incorporating a wide range of groups inside Iran by March to offer a ‘credible alternative’ to the current government.” These oppositions groups have had growing concerns regarding the western sanctions and embargoes on Iran, and are aiming to create a more democratic leadership to quell the tension.