Security Council

6552^nd Meeting (PM)

Security Council Authorizes Expert Panel Helping to Monitor Sanctions on Iran

to Continue Work Until June 2012, by Vote of 14 in Favour with 1 Abstention

 

Reaffirming Value of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s Balanced Implementation,

Lebanon Says Vote Today Reflects Position on Draft that Established Panel in 2010

Urging all States to cooperate fully with the sanctions imposed on Iran over concern about the nature of its nuclear activities, the Security Council today extended for one year the mandate of the Panel of Experts created last year to help monitor the measures’ implementation.

Through the adoption of resolution 1984 (2011) by a vote of 14 in favour to none against, with 1 abstention (Lebanon), the Council also set up a schedule for the work of the Panel created by resolution 1929 (2010), which tightened the sanctions on Iran by including a ban on arms sales and all items which could contribute to Iran’s enrichment of uranium, and imposed an asset freeze on targeted entities.

Explaining his abstention, after the vote, the representative of Lebanon acknowledged the technical nature of the resolution, but said that he had voted in accordance with his position on resolution 1929 (2010).  He reaffirmed the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s (NPT) balance of non-proliferation, disarmament and the peaceful acquisition of nuclear energy by developing countries, particularly those in the Middle East, and he looked forward to the day when that region would be one free of nuclear weapons. 

Also speaking after the vote, the representatives of the Russian Federation and China stressed the importance of the Panel’s strict compliance with its mandate, verifying all facts, remaining impartial and objective and avoiding all unverified and politicized information.  They also underlined the importance of frequent consultation between the Panel and the Council on the Panel’s work. 

Welcoming the adoption of the resolution, the representatives of the United States, France, Germany and the United Kingdom said the Panel of Experts played a key role in ensuring that the measures adopted by the Council were implemented.  In its first year, the Panel had explained measures to Member States and had provided analyses and technical advice to the Council’s monitoring committee for sanctions on Iran, known as the “1737 Committee”, they said. 

The Panel’s work was far from complete, those representatives stressed, because Iran continued to evade full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as confirmed by the Agency in its last report.  Germany’s representative emphasized that the dual-track strategy that included pressure and dialogue with Iran could only be effective if the existing sanctions regime was carried out effectively.

The resolution adopted today would send a powerful signal to Iran’s decision-makers, said the delegate of the United States, amplifying the message of the joint statement by China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and the United States issued to the IAEA Board of Governors after the Agency’s latest report.

The meeting was opened at 3:10 p.m. and closed at 3:30 p.m.

Resolution

The full text of resolution 1984 (2011) reads as follows:

“The Security Council,

“Recalling its previous relevant resolutions, including resolution 1696 (2006), resolution 1737 (2006), resolution 1747 (2007), resolution 1803 (2008), 1835 (2008), 1887 (2009), and 1929 (2010), as well as the statement of its President of 29 March 2006 (S/PRST/2006/15) and reaffirming their provisions,

“Recalling the creation, pursuant to paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010), of a Panel of Experts, under the direction of the Committee, to carry out the tasks provided for by that paragraph,

“Recalling the 9 February 2011 interim report by the Panel of Experts appointed by the Secretary-General pursuant to paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010) and the 7 May 2011 final report by the Panel,

“Recalling the methodological standards for reports of sanctions monitoring mechanisms contained in the Report of the Informal Working Group of the Security Council on General Issues of Sanctions (S/2006/997),

“Noting, in that regard, the importance of credible, fact-based, independent assessments, analysis, and recommendations, in accordance with the Panel of Experts’ mandate,

“Determining that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, as well as their means of delivery, continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security,

“Acting under Article 41 of Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations,

“1.   Decides to extend until 9 June 2012 the mandate of the Panel of Experts, as specified in paragraph 29 of resolution 1929 (2010), and requests the Secretary-General to take the necessary administrative measures to this effect;

“2.   Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee no later than 9 November 2011 a midterm report on its work, and further requests that, after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel of Experts submit to the Council its midterm report by 9 December 2011, and requests also a final report to the Committee no later than thirty days prior to the termination of its mandate with its findings and recommendations, and further requests that, after a discussion with the Committee, the Panel of Experts submit to the Council its final report upon termination of the Panel’s mandate;

“3.   Requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee a planned program of work no later than thirty days after the Panel’s appointment, encourages the Committee to engage in regular discussions about this program of work, and further requests the Panel of Experts to provide to the Committee any updates to this program of work;

“4.   Urges all States, relevant United Nations bodies and other interested parties, to cooperate fully with the Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) and the Panel of Experts, in particular by supplying any information at their disposal on the implementation of the measures imposed by resolution 1737 (2006), resolution 1747 (2007), resolution 1803 (2008), and resolution 1929 (2010);

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

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For information media • not an official record