At noon New York time on Saturday, key Iranian financial institutions, including the country’s central bank, will be disconnected from the global banking messaging system. As economic sanctions go, this one is a killer app.

Henceforth, Iran’s ability to engage in international commerce will be severely limited in punishment for

flouting the world in pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Happily, Iran’s protectors in Moscow and Beijing have nothing to say in the matter. Reconnection to the banking network will come only when the nukes project ends, not before.

The move is a first by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT), a Brussels-based consortium linking more than 10,000 banks and securities firms in every country on the planet. As many as 20 million messages for payments are sent daily, allowing the movement of money around the world.

But no longer for Iran, as SWIFT was forced to unplug the country to comply with European Union sanctions on Tehran. Those bar businesses within the EU — including SWIFT — from engaging in trade with targeted Iranian institutions.

The tighter the noose on Iran the better, because time is running short in the drive to prevent the mullahs from acquiring the capability to assemble a nuclear weapon. Once that line is crossed by a country that has vowed to wipe Israel off the map, there will be no going back. The world would then face military action. Pray that there’s no need. (© Copyright 2012 NYDailyNews.com. 03/17/12)