How to solve a problem like Iran

With Iran this week announcing its intentions to step up its uranium enrichment, America and France is promising to increase international sanctions against the rogue state, but will this really have any effect?

Bearing in mind that the UN has already imposed three rounds of sanctions on the country, but this seems to have had little impact.

There is no doubt that Iran, led by president Ahmadinejad is a real threat. World leaders are far too aware that the country's uranium enrichment could easily be used to produce a nuclear bomb. America recently released details of its plan to position a number of missile defense units around Iran’s border to protect the us and other countries.

The hundred-dollar question is.... how can it all be stopped?

Unlike Iraq and Afghanistan, Iran prides itself on a strong and efficient army. And with Britain and America already fighting one war, they don't have the resources to start another. China and Russia have been identified as key states, which must be won over in order for tight sanctions to work. Unless the two countries agree to publicly denounce Iran's behavior then negotiations will never work.

At this point in time, there seems to be no real answer to this crucial question. Iran knows it’s holding all the cards, and it’s reveling in it. According to Iranian scientist they will have 10 uranium plants up and running within ten years. Can we afford not to believe them?

We had the recent kidnapping incident in which 5 British sailors were held by the Iranian military for apparently entering their waters. We then discovered that Iran could well have been involved in the kidnapping of British IT worker Peter Moore and expect more trouble in the capital Tehran this Thursday when protesters once again hit the streets on the anniversary of the revolution.

It strikes me that Iran is playing a game, a very good game. Ahmadinejad's and his merry men enjoys outside interest and media coverage more than the proverbial wag, And with no sign of the UN or other countries coming up with any realistic solution to control the rogue state I don't expect anything to change.