Obama expended considerable energy this week urging international support for fresh U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities, but with continuing resistance from some influential countries, the administration is signaling that it will likely have to scale back its expectations.
On Friday, the presidents of the two permanent Security Council members least in favor of tough sanctions, China and Russia, will meet with another leading sanctions critic, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Their summit in Brasilia -- which also involves India, a nation that also is dubious on sanctions -- is expected to focus extensively on Iran.
Iran hid its nuclear activities from the international community until exiled regime opponents exposed them in 2002. Over the years since, it has insisted on its right to develop a nuclear energy and research program while denying that it has any plans to use the technology or the material it is producing for military purposes.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/64160
