London and Washington are seeking a declaration signed by all five nuclear powers that states Iran has demonstrated the intent to build a nuclear weapon. The West believes the declaration would lend credibility to the threat of UN economic sanctions and induce Iran to be more cooperative during negotiations. Currently, Chinese and Russian officials are unwilling to join such a declaration.

Since the 2002 revelation of Iran?s secret nuclear program, Washington and Tehran have engaged in combative rhetoric, while Britain , France , and Germany ?known as the E-3?have attempted to resolve the crisis through negotiations. However, it is China and Russia that are the most pivotal actors involved in the Iranian nuclear issue. Both countries are veto wielding, permanent members of the UN Security Council and have extensive energy and trade relationships with Iran. Iran has crafted an inflexible negotiating posture, basing their intransigence on the belief that Russia and China would block UN sanctions against Tehran. Conversely, the US and the E-3 understand their threat of sanctions carries little weight unless it is supported by China and Russia.