UN sanctions looking less and less likely

China deals blow to Western efforts to punish Iran... drops out of November 19 meet.

China has dealt a blow to Western efforts to increase diplomatic pressure on Iran over its nuclear program by dropping out of a meeting to discuss tougher sanctions against Tehran.

Russia, which like China opposes further U.N. sanctions against Iran, added fuel to the fire by announcing on Friday that the U.N. nuclear watchdog would soon start inspecting and sealing atomic fuel bound for an Iranian reactor... Russia has given no specific date when it will send the nuclear fuel to Bushehr, but says it would be sent six months before the plant's start-up.

These guys are really starting to annoy me. I would like to deal a blow to Chinese efforts to host the Olympics.

The UK, France and Germany are all holding firm with France, and now Germany, pushing for EU sanctions similar to the US's.

Meanwhile Iran and China vow to boost ties and the Iranians want the US to apologize for lying to world public opinion, of all things. Oh please, don't make me laugh.

The US does some saber rattling by way of reply.

It's interesting to note that the NY Times is reporting that Iran was blocked from purchasing Nuclear materials at least 75 times over the last nine years.

/But it's for peaceful purposes, right?