Draft resolution raises veiled threat of sanctions on Iran
Over Chinese and Russian opposition, western nations have circulated a UN Security Council resolution that would demand Iran abandon uranium enrichment or face the threat of unspecified further measures, a possible reference to sanctions.
Britain and France, backed by the United States, hope to wrap up negotiations on the legally binding resolution before a meeting of foreign ministers in New York next Monday. However, diplomats acknowledged that resistance from China and Russia may prolong talks well beyond that.
The resolution, presented yesterday, is the latest in weeks of negotiation over how to confront suspicions about Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is for peaceful purposes. The United States and France accuse the country of secretly trying to build nuclear weapons.
“Once again, the key to this lies in Iran’s hands,” US Ambassador John Bolton said. “If they give up the pursuit of nuclear weapons, a lot of things are possible. If they continue to bluster and to threaten and obfuscate and try to throw sand in our eyes, then we’re onto a different circumstance.”
The resolution mandates that Iran suspend enrichment and warns that the council would “consider such further measures as may be necessary to ensure compliance” – language that opens the door to sanctions.
It calls on Iran to stop construction of a heavy-water reactor and demands that nations “exercise vigilance” in blocking the transfer of goods and technology that could help Iran’s uranium reprocessing and missile programmes. The council would also seek a report back from the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, on Iran’s compliance.
No timeframe has been set for that report, but France’s UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said he wants that report no later than early June.
The resolution was written under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which makes any demands mandatory and allows for the use of sanctions – and possibly force – if they are not obeyed. Any sanctions would require another resolution.
That could force a showdown with Russia, which has arms and technology deals with Iran, as well as China. Both nations have said they adamantly oppose tough council action, including sanctions, and the two could use their veto-power on the council to block it.
“I don’t think this draft as it stands now will produce good results,” China’s UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said as he emerged from the Security Council meeting where the draft was introduced. “I think it’s tougher than expected.”
The resolution was drafted by Britain, France and Germany, the three European Union nations that have led negotiations with Iran. Ambassadors said discussions between the three EU nations, the United States, China and Russia were only beginning over the resolution.
Ambassadors said the Chapter 7 element was the core of the resolution, suggesting that other language, like the threat of further measures and blocking technology transfers, could be scrapped.
“On the strategic objective, there’s nothing between the six of us. We do not want to see an Iran with a nuclear weapon capability,” said Britain’s Ambassador Emyr Jones-Parry. “On the detail of the resolution, there have been exchanges of views and those will continue.”
Wang, China’s ambassador, said he also opposed language that refers to the “proliferation risks presented by the Iranian nuclear programme” and “the threat to international peace and security”.
President George Bush has stressed that the United States will continue to focus on diplomacy.
However, he refuses to rule out military action if necessary.
When asked last month whether US options regarding Iran “include the possibility of a nuclear strike” if Tehran refuses to halt uranium enrichment, Bush replied, “All options are on the table.”
Russia, a firm opponent of the resolution, was clearly wary that some language in the new draft could be seen as opening the door to military action.
That would likely include the reference to “further measures”.
“We do not believe the matter can be resolved by use of force, so that does reflect in our attitude to various possibilities in the text of the resolution,” Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said.
Last month, the Security Council issued a non-binding statement that Iran comply with previous demands to abandon enrichment. That statement asked for a report from the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, in 30 days on Iran’s compliance. The IAEA is the UN’s nuclear watchdog.
As had been widely expected, ElBaradei issued a report on Friday saying Iran had not complied, laying the groundwork for yesterday’s resolution.
