From the site: International Relations and Security Network ISN - Security Watch http://www.isn.ethz.ch/
UN passes new Iran sanctions resolution
From RFE/RL.By RFE/RL staff (26/03/07)After the vote, Iran dismissed the resolution as "unnecessary and unjustified." The resolution broadens sanctions imposed on Iran in December for ignoring repeated demands to suspend its sensitive nuclear fuel work. Today's vote was the culmination of a weeklong diplomatic push by the five permanent members of the Security Council, plus Germany. "The result of the voting is as follows: the draft resolution received 15 votes in favor," South African UN Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, who is the current president of the Security Council, announced. "The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as Resolution 1747 of 2007." Details of the resolution The new resolution bans all Iranian arms exports and asks countries to restrict financial aid and loans to Tehran. It also freezes the assets of 28 additional officials and institutions linked to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. About one-third of those officials are linked to Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps. The resolution gives Tehran 60 more days to comply with UN demands or face what the measure calls "further appropriate measures" under Article 41 of the UN Charter. That would include further economic sanctions, but not military force. It also calls for a voluntary travel embargo against Iranian officials named in the text. After the vote, British UN Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry read a statement on behalf of the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany and the high representative of the European Union. "The unanimous adoption of Security Council Resolution 1747 reflects the international community's profound concerns over Iran's nuclear programs," he said. "We deplore Iran's failure to comply with the earlier resolutions of the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency, and we call upon Iran, once again, to comply fully with all its international obligations." Jones Parry also addressed the council in his capacity as Britain's representative. "This resolution, building upon resolutions 1696 and 1737, sends a unanimous and unambiguous signal to the government and people of Iran," he said. "To both, we say that we prefer and are committed to the path of cooperation, but we say also that the path of proliferation by Iran is not one that the international community can accept." Acting US Ambassador to the UN Alejandro Wolff also welcomed the action and the show of international solidarity. "The United States is pleased that the Security Council has, once again, unanimously taken action against what is clearly a grave threat to international peace and security," Wolff said. "While we hope that Iran responds to this resolution by complying with its international legal obligations," he added. "The United States is fully prepared to support additional measures in 60 days should Iran choose another course." Iran's reaction Iran has consistently rejected charges that it is seeking to develop atomic weapons, saying its nuclear program is intended only to generate electricity. Iranian Foreign Minister Manuchehr Mottaki, addressing the Security Council after today's vote, called the resolution "unnecessary and unjustified" and said Iran presents no threat to international peace or security. He reiterated that Iran's nuclear program is intended for "completely peaceful" purposes. "This is the fourth time in the last 12 months that an unwarranted move orchestrated by a few of its permanent members, the Security Council is being abused to take an unlawful, unnecessary, and unjustifiable action against the peaceful nuclear program of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which presents no threat to international peace and security," Mottaki said. Ahmadinejad did not appear Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad had been expected to address the Security Council today. But he canceled the trip to New York at the last minute. The United States has rejected Iranian allegations that it failed to issue visas early enough to allow Ahmadinejad to make the trip. The draft of the resolution was agreed by the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council, plus Germany, on 23 March. It was later amended in an effort to overcome the objections of several elected members of the Security Council, including South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar. This latest resolution builds upon an earlier Security Council resolution, adopted on 23 December, that banned trade in sensitive nuclear and missile technology. It also froze the assets of officials linked to Iran's atomic programs. The new resolution says sanctions will be suspended if the UN's nuclear agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, confirms that Iran has suspended its uranium-enrichment activities.
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Copyright (c) 2007. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington DC 20036. Funded by the US Congress
