The Obama administration is working on tougher sanctions against Iran, adopting a much more aggressive stance against the Islamic republic than it has in years, The Washington Post reported today.

President Ahmadinejad of Iran has aggressively pursued nuclear capability for the Islamic Republic. Photo credit: Daniella Zalcman

In the wake of a series of deadly protests in the country, as well as Iran’s refusal to engage the international community on its nuclear programme and its insistence on pursuing nuclear capabilities, the US is crafting sanctions that would target specific elements of Iran’s government. The Washington Post reported that officials are trying to avoid sanctions that would punish or alienate the Iranian people, as well as to keep open the possibility of nuclear talks with Iran. The sanctions come as Iran rebuffs President Barack Obama’s ultimatum that the country accept a fuel enrichment deal by the end of 2009. The “menu of sanctions”, Reuters reported, could be imposed by the UN alone, or in concert with the US and its European allies.

“We have never been attracted to the idea of trying to get the whole world to cordon off their economy,” a senior US official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, told The Washington Post. “We have to be deft at this, because it matters how the Iranian people interpret their isolation – whether they fault the regime or are fooled into thinking we are to blame.”

Others are also urging caution: Richard Silverstein, writing on Al Jazeera’s web site, says, “At this time it is simply ridiculous for the US and its Western allies to be contemplating punitive actions against Iran.
The situation there is simply far too volatile and it would be exploited by the regime to denounce its opponents and thereby preserve power.”

The announcement that the US wants to pursue tougher sanctions comes just a day after an Iranian foreign minister said that the UK would get a “punch in the mouth” for offering support to protesters.