Since 2006, three rounds of UN Security Council sanctions have been imposed on Iran in response to its nuclear program and continuing reluctance to fully cooperate with the IAEA.

In March 2006, the Security Council requested that the IAEA report on Tehran's condition of complying with the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Then in May, it adopted a resolution endorsing a proposal by the P-5 plus Germany to offer diplomatic and economic incentives to Iran. It also demanded that Iran suspend all uranium enrichment programs by August 31 of that year.

Later, in July, the Security Council expressed serious concerns that the IAEA was unable to provide assurances about Iran's undeclared nuclear material. It then urged the country to "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities—including research and development."

By December 2006, given Iran's failure to comply with international mandates, the Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1737, imposing sanctions on Iran's trade in sensitive nuclear material and technology.

Following the adoption of Resolution 1737, IAEA officials proposed that Tehran halt its uranium-enrichment activities within a 60-day grace period in exchange for a suspension of UN sanctions.

Iran declined this proposal, reiterating that its nuclear program was for civilian use, as permitted under the auspices of the NPT.

Iran said that, while subscribers to the NPT were being punished, those that had not signed the treaty were rewarded with generous nuclear cooperation agreements.

The Security Council moved to impose more severe sanctions, contained in Resolution 1747, adopted in March 2007. The resolution banned all arms exports to Iran, froze its assets and restricted the international travels of those involved in Iran's nuclear program.

In addition, the resolution called on members of the international community to prevent the supply or sale of equipment and technology aiding Iran's nuclear program in any way.

Further restrictions imposed in March 2008 via Security Council Resolution 1803 encouraged scrutiny of the dealings of the Iranian banking system. It also called on countries to inspect cargo planes and ships entering or leaving Iran upon "reasonable grounds" to believe there were goods prohibited by previous resolutions.

Past experiences have demonstrated that sanctions are hardly the best solutions to the Iranian nuclear issue. Sanctions, in many cases, while failing to achieve their desired effects, could be counterproductive, leading to further tension and animosity. Ultimately, ordinary people become the biggest victims of these sanctions.

A window for peace

Iran has little reason to trust the United States, of course, especially since Washington regards the Islamic Republic as a belligerent nation. Nor can the United States be convinced of Iran's declared peaceful intention of its nuclear activities.

To find a solution, both countries must remove the long-existing distrust and animus between them.

The United States should seek improvements in its relations with Iran, and try to restore mutual confidence. Such actions could help diffuse Iran's underlying security concerns. Meanwhile, Iran's right to develop nuclear energy for peaceful and civilian purposes must also be respected.

It is equally important for Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA and fulfill its obligations under the NPT and relevant UN resolutions. This will demonstrate a strong degree of good faith to the international community.

Though there have been rumors of military actions against Iran for some time now, it is reassuring that neither Iran nor the United States has closed the door on negotiations.

In her speech to students of Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, for example, Hillary Clinton conveyed the message that Washington is open to "engagement" with Iran. She said the ongoing diplomatic moves were designed to "figure out a way" to handle Iran's nuclear ambitions peacefully.

Tehran, for its part, expressed readiness "to purchase the fuel it needs." Iran's representative to the IAEA, Ali Soltanieh said in a letter to IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, "Iran is ready to exchange the fuel required for the Tehran research reactor with its low-enriched uranium within Iranian territory."

So the Iranian nuclear issue is far from reaching a dead end.

Pang Sen is vice president and director general of the United Nations Association of China. Zhou Wenyi is a student at the School of Foreign Languages, Peking University