Yes, Obama was snookered by Iran

Two weeks ago, in apparent violation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 2231, Iran launched several ballistic missiles, one of which carried the words “Israel Must Be Wiped Out” in Hebrew.

Technically, this was not a violation of the P5+1 deal, but UNSCR 22331, which approved the nuclear deal, at the same time limits their ballistic missile activity. Although the United States has been raising the issue of sanctions at the Security Council since last Monday, it now seems that Iran is going to get off scot-free. Russia and China, with vetoes in the Security Council, will not allow the passage of any resolution punishing Iran.

Making things worse, because of a last minute U.S. concession in the P5+1 talks, Russia and China may be on firm footing in their decision. When the talks began, UNSCR 1929 was in force and the language which banned Iran’s program read, “Iran shall not undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles.”

A few days into the final rount of negotiations last summer in Vienna, the Iranians demanded that the ban be lifted. The Americans surrendered in two ways: First, they agreed to sunset the entire ban in eight years; second, they agreed to change the language that would apply over the next eight years from “Iran shall not” to “Iran is called upon not to” develop ballistic missiles.

Iran and its friends on the Security Council claim that “shall not” is an enforceable ban, but “called upon” is merely a request. Additionally, the language was narrowed from applying to all “missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons” to just “missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons.” The Russians are using the weakened language to claim Iran didn’t violate anything with the tests.