Pursuing tougher, meaningless sanctions

The pursuit of fresh sanctions against Iran to halt its uranium enrichment program may result in self-glorification for some politicians, but not necessarily in a solution for the thorny issue.

Many people, including some who actively push for tougher resolutions endorsed by the UN Security Council, know too well that sanctions will not work - not in the past, not now and not in the future. While comprehensive sanctions have not worked, the so-called targeted or smart sanctions being pursued now is also in doubt.

Neither the current nor the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano or Mohamed ElBaradei, is optimistic about the effect of new sanctions.