Freeman Report July/August 2006 - Vol. 4, No. 7

In some respects, the July 31 vote on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696 reflects a failure and a disappointment for Beijing. But on the other hand, such developments were not entirely unanticipated in either Beijing or Teheran, and highlight latent tensions between the two capitals as Beijing seeks to balance relations with Iran against more important relations with Washington.