Chatting with a European diplomat recently, the conversation turned to the subject of Iran’s nuclear programme. This diplomat was depressed. He thought Iran was intent on getting the bomb and couldn’t think of anything that would stop it.
(Tehran insists its intentions are purely peaceful, but most western countries think it’s at least interested in the option of developing nuclear weapons.)
I asked about sanctions. Hard to agree and unlikely to have an effect, he thought. Airstrikes? Destabilising and ultimately incapable of stopping Iran from doing what it wants. Continued negotiations? They sound nice, but during the three frustrating years since the European Union first struck a nuclear deal with a Tehran his expectations had taken a nosedive.
So what policy did he advocate, I asked. He still favoured the middle path: action at the United Nations that could lead to sanctions. He couldn’t really see such a strategy succeeding, but considered the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran so bad that the west had to give it a try.

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