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Efforts to increase sanctions on Iran for non-compliance with UN Security Council resolutions on its suspected nuclear weapons programme have been frustrated by the refusal of leading states to go along with them. Yesterday Russian leader Vladimir Putin said more patience is needed to test Iran's policy by diplomatic means, along the lines of the successful negotiations with North Korea. In parallel European Union foreign ministers rejected calls by France, supported by Germany and Britain, to apply unilateral EU sanctions should the United Nations process fail. But Iran's continued resistance may yet provoke a harder response. It has yet to prove its programme is for nuclear energy only.

For nearly two years France, Germany and Britain, representing other EU states, have been talking to Iran about securing compliance with UN demands that it should cease enriching uranium capable of producing a nuclear weapon. They have been continually frustrated in that quest by Iranian prevarication and are now willing to support stronger sanctions to force the issue. These states know Iran is using the delay to reinforce the nuclear programme, all the while denying it has a military objective. They are also fully aware that failure to resolve the issue bolsters the resolve of hardliners in the Bush administration to prepare a possible military strike against Iran before they leave office next year.