Tebogo Ditshego, by e-mail: The United States will be proposing harsher sanctions on Iran at the UN Security Council because Iran has reversed its retroactive nuclear policy, and removed their suspension of uranium enrichment. The US government believes that Iran has atomic ambitions and poses a threat to world peace.

However, countries which have not signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty - such as India and Israel - will not suffer consequences anything like what Iran may have to face.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Taylip Erdogan is reported to have said: "Until now, we haven't seen any request or intent from the international community with regard to Israel's armament. Why hasn't this issue been addressed?"

There is also the challenge of unity on how to deal with countries which may be a nuclear threat. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, China, Britain, France and Russia - have discussed draft sanctions with Germany against Iran recently.

But Russia's agreement to sell an S300 missile system to Iran, and China's strong trading relationship with Tehran are the albatross around the necks of any proposed sanctions.

The case for tougher sanctions on Iran has also been dealt a blow recently when China sold petrol to Iran at the UN security summit.

In addition, Iran-China trade has doubled over the past 10 years to about $30-billion, which may add credence to the possibility that China may use its veto to save Iran from sanctions.

Clearly, there is a lack of synchronisation regarding the way forward regarding nuclear proliferation, even though the Washington nuclear summit was a step in the right direction.