Editorials

Devious intent

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-08-04 09:20

Remarks by a top US military commander that Washington has not relinquished the option to attack Iran for its clandestine nuclear program show that the US has not deviated from its carrot-and-stick policy toward the Islamic nation.

Admiral Mike Mullen said during the course of an NBC program on August 1 that the US has a military strategy to strike Iran if needed to prevent the country from obtaining nuclear weapons. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, however, indicated that military measures are not the preferred option to deal with Iran.

Related readings:  US imposes further sanctions on Iran  Iran dismisses US attack threats: spokesman  Mullen says US has Iran strike plan

The US has adopted this double-faced strategy to defeat Iran ever since the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution June 9 to impose a fourth round of sanctions against the Middle Eastern power over its suspected nuclear program.

By taking this kind of approach, the US is hoping Iran would eventually succumb to its pressure to roll back the program.

Recently, Washington had clearly signaled that it was still interested in, and willing to engage Iran in, constructive negotiations. Yet, on the other hand, it has unilaterally implemented severe sanctions against Iran, even urging the European Union to follow suit.

It is clear that the US is at its wit's end in trying to find a way out of the impasse. Although it is too early to precisely measure the impact of the latest round of sanctions, previous UN efforts to curb Iran have never taken the direction that the US has desired. This might just be the right time for Washington to go down a new road.

The tactics of tit-for-tat retaliation and preemptive action have proved outdated and futile in dealing with extant security issues. Past experience indicates that drastic moves will only escalate tension and nullify any chances of further mediation.

To resolve the Iranian nuclear standoff, it may be wiser if Washington can set into motion the Vienna group comprising itself, France, Russia and the International Atomic Energy Agency. Negotiations are always preferable to saber rattling.