Calling Ahmadi's Bluff

Washington responds to Iran's agreement with Brazil and Turkey on a nuclear fuel swap:

In a surprise move, the Obama administration unveiled a new draft Iran sanctions resolution to the full United Nations Security Council Tuesday that has the support of all five of its permanent members, including Russia and China. [...M]ost surprising is that the U.S. was able to keep China on board for a new U.N. Iran sanctions resolution after the fuel swap deal, given that China has consistently signaled its discomfort with economic sanctions and called for continued diplomatic efforts with Iran.

Max Fisher examines the reasons why Russia and China came around. Gary Sick thinks the Brazilians and Turks have been humiliated:

Little did they know that their success in Tehran, which had been given a 0-30 percent chance just days earlier, came just as the Americans were putting the final touches on a package of sanctions to be presented to the UN Security Council. The Tehran agreement was as welcome as a pothole in the fast lane, and the Americans were not reluctant to let their displeasure be known. The five major powers had made up their minds (without consulting other members of the Security Council that currently includes both Turkey and Brazil), and these two mid-level powers were told in so many words to get out of the way.

The Leveretts bristle.