The Canadian government started the push by demanding that the United Nations issue more sanctions against Iran until the nation agrees to entirely abandon uranium enrichment. The call then devolved into the usual US and Western calls for sanctions, with President Obama demanding that such action happen in “weeks.”

The net result was what such talks usually see: eager support from Western nations who were already on board for the sanctions and indications that both China and Russia remain far from the Western position.

IAEA chief Amano Yukiya also chimed in, reiterating that Iran was not in compliance with the additional protocol to the safeguars agreement, something Iran insists it never formally ratified. But Amano also seemed to caution against sanctions, warning that the tension could make matters more difficult for inspectors.

G8 member Russia was dismissive of the anti-Iran measures, insisting that the post-election situation was an internal matter and not something for the group to take up. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had visited Russia just days after the disputed election, and was received warmly.

President Obama and other US officials have repeatedly treated their claims that Iran is developing nuclear weapons as a matter of course, however officials of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) insist that there is no evidence that the nation has an active weapons program. The IAEA has also repeatedly certified that the civilian nuclear program in Iran, a source of major US criticism, has not diverted any of its material to military use.

But in an almost unfathomable change in directions from the nation that has generally spearheaded the pro-sanctions position, diplomats say that the United States is opposed to the new sanctions, which would punish oil companies that do business in Iran.

Advocates are seeking to punish Iran for its crackdown on protesters against last month’s disputed election, but US officials are reportedly concerned that sanctions on the basis of the election could actually harm the opposition’s position and might also keep them from negotiations on their nuclear program.

The Iranian government and the state media have repeatedly accused the opposition of being organized by foreign governments, and would likely spin the sanctions as an attempt by the international community to force their candidate of choice into office, despite investigations by the Guardian Council insisting no evidence of massive voter fraud exists.