National Post

Peter Goodspeed: If sanctions against Iran fail, war may be inevitable
The European Union joined the United States Monday in launching an economic war against Iran to force it to abandon a suspected nuclear weapons program.

By imposing an embargo on Iranian oil exports and freezing assets of its central bank, EU members hope to cut so deeply into government revenues Tehran will agree to accept international safeguards on its nuclear program.

But the sanctions themselves may be the penultimate step before a possible military attack.

Western leaders like Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, have insisted stiff economic sanctions are necessary to avert a possible war with Iran.

But if sanctions fail, war may inevitable.

(The Nimitz-class aircraft carriers USS John C. Stennis, left, and USS Abraham Lincoln. Photo: REUTERS/U.S. Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate)