Security Council

6344^th Meeting* (PM)

Committee on Iran Sanctions Examines Reported Violations, Stands Ready to Carry

Out Tasks Associated with Latest Round of Measures, Security Council Told

 

The Security Council committee monitoring implementation of sanctions on Iran was continuing to examine reported violations and was ready to carry out the tasks assigned to it by the 9 June Council resolution that imposed a fourth round of sanctions against that country, its Chairman told the Council this afternoon.

Yukio Takasu (Japan) Chairman of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006), described that body’s follow-up to violations of the export ban on arms and related material involving Iran, on which he had previously reported.  He was briefing Council members on the Committee’s 90-day report, covering the period 5 March to 28 June 2010.

He said that, during that time, the Committee had responded to a written request for guidance from a Member State on the disposal of arms-related material from Iran found on board the M/V Hansa India, that was transferred in violation of resolution 1747 (2007) — a text which widened the scope of earlier sanctions against Iran by banning the country’s arms exports and freezing the assets and restricting the travel of additional individuals engaged in the country’s proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities.

In that connection, he noted that Council resolution 1929 (2010), adopted on 9 June, clarified States’ responsibilities in such a situation and authorized and obliged them to seize and dispose of Council-banned items supplied, sold, transferred or exported.  That resolution also mandated the Committee to submit by 24 July a work programme on implementing the necessary measures and to set up, under the Committee’s direction, a panel of experts to carry out certain tasks.

He said the Committee had also received a response from another Member State on the activities of the M/V Francop and a notification from a Member State concerning the delivery of items for use in the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, Iran.  It was considering a Member State’s letter about an intended delivery of items for use in that plant.

The Committee had received additional specific information on a prior, general notification from a Member State in connection with the unfreezing of funds for contracts entered into prior to the listing of an entity.  Also, it would respond to a Member State’s query for confirmation that certain individuals and entities had not been designated by the Council or the Committee as subjected to the travel ban and/or assets freeze.

To date, the Committee had received 92 reports from Member States under resolution 1737, 79 under resolution 1747 and 68 under resolution 1803 (2008).  It expected to receive implementation reports pursuant to paragraph 31 of resolution 1929 (2010) in the coming days, he said, strongly encouraging all Member States to submit them within the requested time frame.

Following the briefing, Susan Rice ( United States) said the Council had sent a strong message about Iran’s nuclear programme by adopting resolution 1929 (2010).  It had imposed tough, new, comprehensive sanctions on Iran that reinforced the determination of the United States and the international community to hold Iran to its international obligations and prevent it from developing nuclear weapons.  The Committee had a critical role in helping States fulfil their obligations to implement the necessary measures and help respond effectively to violations of international law.  In resolution 1929, the Council had directed the Committee to intensify efforts, including through creation of a work plan, to strengthen implementation of relevant Council resolutions on Iran.  She asked the Committee Chairman to work with the Council on that ambitious agenda to show the potential of multilateral mechanisms to tackle urgent threats.

She encouraged the Council to work with the newly established Panel of Experts, and asked that the Panel become operational by the end of the summer.  The United States was committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution and the dual-track strategy, and it was ready to engage with Iran to address concerns.  She acknowledged Iran’s right to pursue peaceful nuclear power, but said it was obliged to ensure the world of the peaceful nature of its nuclear intentions.  Iran could choose to address those concerns and build more prosperous relations with the international community.  But if it continued to undermine the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), it would only find itself more isolated, less prosperous and less secure.

David Quarrey ( United Kingdom) said the measures imposed by resolution 1929 (2010) were targeted, proportionate and irreversible, and that it was essential to ensure their effective implementation.  The Committee would be key to monitoring and implementation, and its work plan, the most ambitious so far, should address those activities.  He urged the Committee and the Secretariat to make the panel operational as soon as possible.  Iran had not suspended its uranium-enrichment activities, in clear defiance of Council resolutions.  It had no credible civilian application for building the enrichment site at Qom, nor had it notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its construction in a timely manner.

According to the Committee’s report, Iran had not provided the necessary cooperation to conclude that all material in Iran was for peaceful nuclear activities, he said, calling for the resumption of talks, begun last October, saying they could lead to a solution if they were purposeful.  He extended a hand to Iran on those talks, but said he was equally determined to respond robustly to Iran’s refusal to comply with its international obligations.

Emmanuel Bonne ( France) said Iran had not answered any of the IAEA’s questions on its nuclear activities, but had responded with provocations.  Its enrichment of uranium to 20 per cent and its refusal to cooperate with the IAEA had led the Council to adopt resolution 1929 (2010).  The door to dialogue was still open.  He expressed hope for a diplomatic solution and that Iran would respond to the IAEA’s questions.  The Committee showed that Member States regarded very seriously the measures against Iran.  The report presented today showed violations that should be investigated.  He encouraged all States to cooperate with the Committee so that investigations could take place under optimum conditions.

Vitaly Churkin ( Russian Federation) said that, during the reporting period, the Committee had acted in full compliance with its mandate and that its new work programme would promote effective implementation.  He called for resolving the Iranian nuclear problem through diplomatic means.  Strict compliance with Council resolutions was necessary.  It was unacceptable for third States to supply Iran with weapons.  His Government’s position on Iran’s nuclear programme was unchanged.  He called for dialogue and on Iran to take the necessary steps to rapidly resume talks with the “P-5 plus one” ( China, France, Russian Federation, United Kingdom, United States and Germany).  Such a settlement was in the interest of the international community.

Du Xiaocong ( China) said that, in the past 90 days, the Committee had carried out effective work, adopting resolution 1929 (2010) — the sixth resolution on the issue since July 2006.  Like the previous five, that text reflected international concern on the Iranian nuclear issue and the hope of all parties for a peaceful solution to it through diplomatic negotiations.  All countries were obliged to implement it.  He supported safeguarding the nuclear non-proliferation regime and the dual-tract strategy.  Sanctions could not be used to solve questions fundamentally.  Diplomatic peaceful negotiations were the best option.  Recently, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, had written to Iran’s Supreme National Security Council about the European Union’s willingness to meet with Iran as soon as possible.  All parties were still making active efforts to promote the Tehran Research Reactor agreement between Brazil, Turkey and Iran.

Iran had also expressed its willingness to negotiate with the international community, he said, expressing hope that all parties would seize the opportunity to resume talks.  He also hoped that Iran would continue to cooperate with the IAEA in order to remove the international community’s doubts about its nuclear activities.  China would actively participate in the Committee’s work, as well as with its Chairman and promote a constructive role on the Iranian nuclear issue.

The meeting began at 3:10 p.m. and adjourned at 3:34 p.m.

* *** *

__________

*     The 6343^rd Meeting was closed.

For information media • not an official record