Two rogue nations entering into a dangerous agreement

If there were any doubt about the disdain the leaders of Iran and Zimbabwe have for the United Nations, consider this: Despite U.N. sanctions that have been imposed against them, the countries are currently in talks that could result in Iran gaining access to Zimbabwe’s uranium deposits, and the African country receiving urgently needed fuel. The ramifications of such a deal are enormous.

If an agreement is reached, it would not only signal the defiance of two rogue nations, but would send a clear message that Iran has every intention of pursuing the development of nuclear weapons.

Last June, the United Nations Security Council imposed its fourth round of sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program, but as the New York Times reported, “the measure did little to overcome widespread doubts that they — or even additional steps pledged by American and European officials — would accomplish the Council’s longstanding goal: halting Iran’s production of nuclear fuel.”

As for Zimbabwe, the central African nation that has been under bloody dictatorial rule for more than 20 years, U.N. sanctions were imposed because of human rights abuses by President Robert Mugabe and members of his brutal paramilitary force. Despite being shunned by the international community, Mugabe has remained defiant. He has ignored calls by other Africans leaders to step down so the economically and socially devastated nation can begin to rebuild.

Zimbabawe has found countries willing to engage in trade, but Iran’s desire to strike a deal on the uranium is the most blatant disregard of international norms.

The Telegraph of London first reported on the uranium plan, and quoted from a leaked intelligence report from the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog that Iran’s foreign and cooperative ministers had visited Zimbabwe to strike a deal. The report also said Iranian engineers had been sent to assess uranium deposits.

Zimbabwe’s foreign minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, called the sanctions against Iran’s nuclear program unfair and hypocritical.

“Western states follow the approach of sanctions towards countries which do not yield to their domination and act against their interests,” Mumbengegwi told The Telegraph.

In the past, President Mugabe has dismissed as “illegal” the US and European Union sanctions against him and members of his regime, the newspaper reported.

Peaceful purposes?

Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the ayatollahs, who actually run the country, have insisted that the nuclear program is for peaceful, commercial purposes.

However, their desire to get their hands on as much uranium as possible calls into question their intentions.

Iran’s claim that its nuclear plants would only produce fuel is dismissed by Ben Rhode, a research associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, who told the British newspaper, “Iran already has a guaranteed fuel supply from Russia for the lifetime of its Bushehr power reactor. It is therefore difficult to understand the peaceful, commercial nature of such a procurement.”

The most disturbing aspect of the uranium scheme is that U.N. officials are hard-pressed to come up with a way to punish Zimbabwe if it sells the material to Iran, and to prevent Iran from seeking supplies around the world.

The international organization cannot let such lawless nations ignore the will of member states. A way must be found to dissuade them from going forward with the deal.