If they do wish to change Iran's thinking about their nuclear ambitions, this would be a sure way of sending a clear message - Russia will forfeit their nuclear cooperation with Iran through a third party indemnity clause. This goes beyond procedural acceptance of additional UN sanctions against Iran in the Security Council. Washington has been lobbying hard to paint Iran as a threat not just to Isreal and Europe, but to Russian interests in both the Afghanistan theater of operation and the greater middle-east. They may have even threatened to veto Russian attempts to place a port in Syria and forbid Israel from cooperating with Moscow to develop its UAV program. In the zero sum game of international politics, one needs to hold on to even the slightest advantage and frustrate any attempt at other powers to enhance their active defenses. Washington has been waving a very big and menacing carrot indeed.
