I appreciate your comment about the importance of having leverage in dialogue. You always need a plan B. But I begin to wonder, if the current sanctions haven't been effective—and they have been substantial, the U.S. is a large trading partner and it can have a tremendous impact on any country in the world—whether or not additional sanctions from smaller countries would move it to the tipping point where it would make that significant difference that the regime would change.
I'm also wondering if the electorate is not attributing their hardship to sanctions and whether additional sanctions would actually increase the likelihood of an uprising within the country.
I'll let you comment on those if you choose. Also, is there anything preventing Europe from proceeding with sanctions? Is it a lack of political will? Is there a reciprocal relationship that prevents them? What's the prevention on their side?