Has Russia realized futility of Iran sanctions? http://www.mehrnews.com/en/newsdetail.aspx?NewsID=1326998

Russian officials say they have come to the conclusion that the logic beyond the imposition of sanctions on Iran is questionable.After French President Nicolas Sarkozy called for the imposition of tougher sanctions on Iran on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit in Deauville, northern France, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Russia was opposed to any new resolution or sanctions against Iran and stated that the sanctions route has been completely exhausted and no new resolution is needed. 

“This method has completely exhausted itself,” Ryabkov said, adding, “We are not ready to accept the logic.” According to Reuters, Sarkozy said on Friday that new sanctions should be imposed on Iran and accused the country of taking advantage of the Arab spring to press ahead with its nuclear program. Speaking at the closing press conference of the Group of Eight summit, Sarkozy said the G8 leaders had determined that Iran had used the uprisings in the Arab world to continue what Western countries claim is a program to develop nuclear weapons. 

“We shall take new measures to reinforce again sanctions against it,” Sarkozy said. Ryabkov’s remarks show that the United States, France, and other Western countries cannot take any new measure against Iran at the United Nations Security Council because it seems that Russia will block any new motion against Iran, so the Western countries have no options left but to take symbolic moves like the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Iran.