Get a firm grip on Iran

The Iranian government suddenly shows signs of trying to wriggle out of new economic sanctions, a sure sign that getting tough on Iran's defiance of the United Nations over its nuclear program is likely to hurt it. Domestic resistance to police state tactics and dissatisfaction with the government's economic program remain high, and will likely climb higher if truly biting sanctions are applied.

The Obama administration gave Iran until the end of 2009 to respond to an offer to negotiate. Iran rejected the offer. Now it wants to revive talks. The administration should stick to the original deadline and dismiss the latest Iranian ploy.

Last week, Iran said it is still considering a proposal made last fall to provide international custody of its enriched uranium, thereby blocking its use for nuclear weapons. However, Iran said it wants changes in the plan.

The Iranian statement, later confirmed by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, came one day after the U.S. Senate sent President Barack Obama legislation authorizing him to impose sanctions on firms that sell gasoline, among other products, to Iran (see Clifford D. May's column on today's Commentary page). Iran imports gasoline and a cutoff would have severe impacts on the Iranian people, who are already dissatisfied with the government for a variety of reasons.

It also came on the same day, Jan. 29, that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Iran left the world no recourse but to apply penalties for its refusal to end its nuclear program. Her call for stronger sanctions was repeated Tuesday by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. In the interim Washington announced it was beefing up its anti-missile defenses in the Persian Gulf in anticipation of any military moves by Iran.

European firms that continued to do business in Iran during the prolonged dispute over its nuclear program have now begun to pull up stakes. ENI, the Italian energy giant, said recently it will not renew its contracts with Iran. Earlier last week Siemens, the German electronics company, announced it was pulling out. The New York Times reports that European banks are reducing loans to Iran. Credit guarantees now stand at about one-eighth the level reached in 2005.

Iranians clearly see the writing on the wall. They may have lost the support of Russia, if not China. But it is clear that the United States and Western Europe, and their banks, can impose painful trade restrictions on their own.

Iran must give up its nuclear weapons program, no ifs, ands or buts. The time for haggling should be over. Europe and the United States are ready to get tough. They must not back down now.