Iran resolution makes sanctions threat imminent

OVER Chinese and Russian opposition, Western nations 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.

And yesterday, French prime minister Dominique de Villepin said military action was not the solution to the international stand-off over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“My conviction is that military action is not the solution,” Mr de Villepin said at a news conference.

He also urged “unity” and “firmness” within the international community in dealing with Iran.

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 US and France accuse the country of 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 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 force — if they are not obeyed.