If reality bent to tough talk, Iran would have been forced to stop its uranium enrichment programme a long time ago. The Bush administration sounded very stern this week in swatting down a tentative Russian attempt to work out a compromise with Tehran. The US has very few options when it comes to making Iran stop working on projects that could lead to nuclear weapons.

Instead, the US wants the Security Council to solve the Iran problem by denouncing Tehran and, if that doesn’t work, by imposing sanctions. The trouble is that other Council members are considered unlikely to agree to sanctions, given their dependence on Iranian oil. But all this would probably not keep Iran from acquiring weapons. But a look at the alternatives available makes anything that would delay that process seem worth pursuing. A strong, international accord could send a message to Iran that the world community is prepared to work to frustrate its ambitions.

US policies in the Middle East have made Iran more powerful than it was before the invasion of Iraq, while eliminating any room for maneuvering when it comes to deploying the US military. Until the US makes a serious attempt to cut down on its domestic use of oil, there will be no way to lecture any of its allies for wanting to maintain good ties with Iran.