In engaging Iran in direct diplomacy regarding its nuclear program, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the Obama Administration is laying the foundations for more sanctions. That talks, Clinton insisted, would improve America’s “credibility and influence” and allow them to “make the sanctions regime as tight and crippling as we would want it to be.”

Secretary Clinton had previously said the administration does not believe that diplomacy will ultimately be successful with Iran. Today’s emphasis on the “leverage” the talks would give the US with other nations for moving against Iran did nothing to suggest that they are expecting anything but failure. Ultimately “stopping Iran,” and not negotiating better relations with them, seems to be the priority.

Yet some Congressmen are unwilling to wait for the hopeful breakdown on diplomacy to really move against Iran. Proposing what they termed the “Iran Diplomatic Enhancement Act,” they intend to punish companies that help Iran to import gasoline, in addition to those who help the nation to construct refineries.

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