U.S., Iran: Wielding the Sanctions Threat

Russia and China reportedly have agreed on a U.N. Security Council draft resolution that would impose fresh sanctions on Iran, a day after Turkey and Brazil announced a nuclear fuel swap proposal to de-escalate the Iranian nuclear controversy. The U.N. sanctions would be fairly bland, but Washington intends to use them as a tool to pressure Tehran while leaving the door open for further diplomacy between the two countries. It remains to be seen whether Russia and China confirm that they have signed onto this latest sanctions draft and whether Iran will take this U.S. move as a cue to scuttle Turkey's latest attempt at a nuclear compromise.