After all, it’s worked so well in the past, with a 100% success rate of informing the Iranians of our concern and displeasure. As for stopping the nuclear program… not so much. “G-8 gives Iran till September on nukes,” from the Associated Press, with additional reporting by the Jerusalem Post, July 9:
Group of Eight leaders said Wednesday that they deplored the violence in the aftermath of Iran’s disputed election last month, adding they remained committed to seeking a diplomatic solution to Iran’s contentious nuclear program but saying that if no progress is made, leaders will reach new decisions at a G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh late September.
In a series of declarations on global security threats, the G-8 also condemned “in the strongest terms” North Korea’s nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches in defiance of UN resolutions. And they urged Afghanistan to ensure credible elections next month.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said the statement on Teheran by G-8 leaders “shows the unity of the G-8 against the situation in Iran.” But the leaders stopped short of calling for new sanctions or tougher action.
The US portrayed the statement as aggressive, even though the leaders took a weaker, compromise approach that specified no potential action against Iran for its post-election crackdown.
Obama’s undersecretary of state for political affairs, William Burns, said the agreed-upon language is “significant in that you have all eight members of the group indicating they have serious concern.”
“I think it’s a strong statement and it reflects a real sense of urgency,” Burns said….