Security Council

5984^th Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL REAFFIRMS EARLIER RESOLUTIONS ON IRAN’S URANIUM ENRICHMENT,

CALLS ON COUNTRY TO COMPLY WITH OBLIGATIONS ‘FULLY AND WITHOUT DELAY’

Resolution 1835 (2008) Adopted Unanimously

Taking note of the 15 September report of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stating that Iran had not suspended uranium-enrichment-related activities, the Security Council today called on that country to fully and without delay comply with Council resolutions that demanded an end to that programme and to meet the requirements of the IAEA Board of Governors.

The resolutions the Council reaffirmed -- 1696 (2006), 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008) -- demanded under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter that Iran suspend uranium enrichment and heavy-water-related projects, and also established sanctions for non-compliance.

Unanimously adopting resolution 1835 (2008), the Council recalled the 3 March joint statement of the Foreign Ministers of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States with the support of the High Representative of the European Union.  That statement, read out during a Council meeting (see Press Release SC/9268), described a commitment to an early negotiated solution and the countries’ “dual-track” approach that offered Iran “substantial opportunities” for political, security and economic benefits.

The Council reaffirmed its commitment within that framework to an early negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and welcomed the continuing efforts in that regard.

Before the vote, the representative of Indonesia, who had abstained from voting for resolution 1803 (2008), said the current draft resolution did not provide for additional sanctions against Iran, noting that he would not have supported it if it did.  As a matter of principle, Indonesia attached the greatest weight to a negotiated solution, and firmly believed that negotiations offered the best chance for that.  He, therefore, appreciated the incorporation of Indonesia’s amendments that reaffirmed the commitment to a negotiated solution as part of the “dual track” approach.   Indonesia would work to ensure that Council resolutions added value, and provided incentives -- not disincentives -- to negotiations.  For those reasons, Indonesia would vote in favour of the draft resolution.

The meeting started at 4:05 p.m. and adjourned at 4:10 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1835 (2008) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Taking note of the 15 September 2008 Report by the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency on the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions (GOV/2008/38),

“Reaffirming its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),

“1.   Reaffirms the statement of its President, S/PRST/2006/15, of 29 March 2006, and its resolution 1696 (2006) of 31 July 2006, its resolution 1737 (2006) of 23 December 2006, its resolution 1747 (2007) of 24 March 2007, and its resolution 1803 (2008) of 3 March 2008;

“2.   Takes note of the 3 March 2008 statement of the Foreign Ministers of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, with the support of the High Representative of the European Union, describing the dual-track approach to the Iranian nuclear issue;

“3.   Reaffirms its commitment within this framework to an early negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and welcomes the continuing efforts in this regard;

“4.   Calls upon Iran to comply fully and without delay with its obligations under the above-mentioned resolutions of the Security Council, and to meet the requirements of the IAEA Board of Governors;

“5.   Decides to remain seized of the matter.”

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For information media • not an official record