The Iran nuclear deal and the new premier league of global powers

Brazil and Turkey are determined to pursue diplomacy and compromise – even if it means upsetting Washington

guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 19 May 2010 16.59 BST [print_link]

The UN’s proposed sanctions on Iran are nothing like the ‘crippling’ package promised by Hillary Clinton.

in Tehran, reflects a more fundamental and widening disagreement over how the world should be run in the 21st century.

On Iran, as on other issues that it regards as critical to its security and national interest, Washington expects to have its own way – and is accustomed to getting it. If necessary, it stands ready to impose its will. This is what secretary of the state, Hillary Clinton, tried to do this week by whipping the UN security council into line.

Brazil and Turkey, two leading members of a new premier league of emerging global powers, have a quite different approach. They stress persuasion and compromise. In the case of Iran, instead of ultimatums, deadlines and sanctions, they prefer dialogue. It helps that neither country feels threatened by Tehran.

Copenhagen climate summit, and bearded the US over Cuba and Hugo Chávez.

US-initiated security council discussions on a new resolution. Without unanimity in the council, new sanctions are even less likely to be honoured or effectively implemented than is already the case now.

lecturing Turkey on Armenian history, or maintaining double standards on nuclear weapons. Like most Turks, Erdogan opposed the invasion of Iraq. He has led a rapprochement with Syria, another American bete noire. And he suggested this week that Washington was behaving arrogantly in dismissing the Iran deal.