Wednesday
Jun092010
Iran Sanctioned Once Again
Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 11:39AM
The United Nations Security Council has imposed yet another round of sanctions on Iran. This is the fourth round of sanctions --not necessarily tougher, but set up to make travel, cargo inspections and trade more difficult for the Islamic Republic.
The United States took the lead to impose this latest round, as talks between the two nations broke down several times in recent months. A trip to Iran last month by two non-permanent members of the Security Council, Turkey and Brazil, made little difference to the United States--even after Iran agreed to a "Tehran Declaration"--and an exchange for nuclear fuel.
In an immediate response to the brokered deal by Turkey and Brazil, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated "Iran continues to defy the UN Security Council and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)."
The latest round of sanctions, being labeled as a "last resort", received widespread support, most significantly, from Russia and China. Both countries share a strong relationship with Iran on oil and natural gas deals.
A statement from the Iranian Mission to the United Nations released yesterday underscored the country's willingness to cooperate with Turkey and Brazil on the nuclear fuel exchange deal. Iranian UN Ambassador Khazaee, added:
"During the past several days, particularly yesterday and today, some Security Council members were pushing the Council to meet to adopt a resolution against Iran. These measures have been taken at a time when the Tehran Declaration was agreed upon through extensive cooperation with two non-permanent members of the Security Council, and was expected to result in furthering transaction, and more constructive cooperation at the regional and international levels. Should the objectives of Tehran Declaration be materialized, it would give impetus the optimism of the Iranian people regarding the intention of those countries who consider the fuel swap as a confidence-building measure. But unfortunately, I should say that from the point of view of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, these hasty measures are mere deviation from the path of constructive transaction and an indicative of the fact that the other parties rather prefer confrontation."
The Tehran Declaration underscores Iran's agreement to ship its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for nuclear fuel for a reactor for research purposes only. The Security Council resolution outlines Iran has now reached up to 20 percent of its uranium enrichment goals.
This week, on the eve of Security Council sanctions, France, the United States and Russia, known as the Vienna Group, handed over their demands to the IAEA's Director-General Yukiya Amano and urged the Organization to fully reject Iran's proposal for nuclear fuel exchange. United States Ambassador Glyn Davies told the IAEA's 35-member board of governors the Tehran Declaration fails in several ways:
"It does not address the underlying issue of Iran's non-compliance with its non-proliferation obligations. It also does not take into account Iran's production or retention of nearly 20 percent enriched uranium and it asserts a right for Iran to engage in enrichment activities."
Russia and China's influence on the overall outcome of the sanction vote did prevent Iran from getting slapped with an oil embargo which would have been devastating for a country with a broken economy and rampant unemployment--12.5 percent and 3.5 million out of work.
Dr. Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the UN, voiced strong support for Resolution 1929.
"These sanctions are not directed at the Iranian people... It is a strong, broad based resolution that will impose meaningful and significant new sanctions on Iran. Our aim remains to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program and negotiate constructively and in earnest with the international community. "
The overall outcome from the Council today (12 pro, 2 against, 1 abstention), supported the call for Iran to end all of its nuclear weapons capabilities. Brazil, however, rejected the resolution citing that sanctions will cripple Iran's economy and lead to a future scenario mirrored by the case in Iraq. Brazil's representative said "no time has been given" to the Vienna's Group's call nor to the Tehran Declaration.
UN representatives from Turkey also voted against the resolution.
"The Tehran Declaration has created a new reality with respect to Iran's nuclear program. The Declaration provides a new and important window of opportunity for diplomacy. Adoption of sanctions would negatively effect negotiations with Iran."
Turkey's Ambassador proposed that efforts have to continue towards a resolution regardless of the adoption of the vote today.
Lebanon abstained to vote.
Some critics of the US approach say the brokered deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil would have been a positive step forward to opening talks with Iran. They believe this latest round of sanctions will even further isolate Iran and harm progress on future negotiations with the country.
The United States took the lead to impose this latest round, as talks between the two nations broke down several times in recent months. A trip to Iran last month by two non-permanent members of the Security Council, Turkey and Brazil, made little difference to the United States--even after Iran agreed to a "Tehran Declaration"--and an exchange for nuclear fuel.
In an immediate response to the brokered deal by Turkey and Brazil, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton stated "Iran continues to defy the UN Security Council and the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)."
The latest round of sanctions, being labeled as a "last resort", received widespread support, most significantly, from Russia and China. Both countries share a strong relationship with Iran on oil and natural gas deals.
A statement from the Iranian Mission to the United Nations released yesterday underscored the country's willingness to cooperate with Turkey and Brazil on the nuclear fuel exchange deal. Iranian UN Ambassador Khazaee, added:
"During the past several days, particularly yesterday and today, some Security Council members were pushing the Council to meet to adopt a resolution against Iran. These measures have been taken at a time when the Tehran Declaration was agreed upon through extensive cooperation with two non-permanent members of the Security Council, and was expected to result in furthering transaction, and more constructive cooperation at the regional and international levels. Should the objectives of Tehran Declaration be materialized, it would give impetus the optimism of the Iranian people regarding the intention of those countries who consider the fuel swap as a confidence-building measure. But unfortunately, I should say that from the point of view of the people and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, these hasty measures are mere deviation from the path of constructive transaction and an indicative of the fact that the other parties rather prefer confrontation."
The Tehran Declaration underscores Iran's agreement to ship its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for nuclear fuel for a reactor for research purposes only. The Security Council resolution outlines Iran has now reached up to 20 percent of its uranium enrichment goals.
This week, on the eve of Security Council sanctions, France, the United States and Russia, known as the Vienna Group, handed over their demands to the IAEA's Director-General Yukiya Amano and urged the Organization to fully reject Iran's proposal for nuclear fuel exchange. United States Ambassador Glyn Davies told the IAEA's 35-member board of governors the Tehran Declaration fails in several ways:
"It does not address the underlying issue of Iran's non-compliance with its non-proliferation obligations. It also does not take into account Iran's production or retention of nearly 20 percent enriched uranium and it asserts a right for Iran to engage in enrichment activities."
Russia and China's influence on the overall outcome of the sanction vote did prevent Iran from getting slapped with an oil embargo which would have been devastating for a country with a broken economy and rampant unemployment--12.5 percent and 3.5 million out of work.
Dr. Susan Rice, United States Ambassador to the UN, voiced strong support for Resolution 1929.
"These sanctions are not directed at the Iranian people... It is a strong, broad based resolution that will impose meaningful and significant new sanctions on Iran. Our aim remains to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program and negotiate constructively and in earnest with the international community. "
The overall outcome from the Council today (12 pro, 2 against, 1 abstention), supported the call for Iran to end all of its nuclear weapons capabilities. Brazil, however, rejected the resolution citing that sanctions will cripple Iran's economy and lead to a future scenario mirrored by the case in Iraq. Brazil's representative said "no time has been given" to the Vienna's Group's call nor to the Tehran Declaration.
UN representatives from Turkey also voted against the resolution.
"The Tehran Declaration has created a new reality with respect to Iran's nuclear program. The Declaration provides a new and important window of opportunity for diplomacy. Adoption of sanctions would negatively effect negotiations with Iran."
Turkey's Ambassador proposed that efforts have to continue towards a resolution regardless of the adoption of the vote today.
Lebanon abstained to vote.
Some critics of the US approach say the brokered deal between Iran, Turkey and Brazil would have been a positive step forward to opening talks with Iran. They believe this latest round of sanctions will even further isolate Iran and harm progress on future negotiations with the country.
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