U.N. Security Council Begins Work on Iran Resolution

The U.N. Security Council is considering a resolution to demand quick implementation of a moratorium on Iran’s sensitive nuclear work and threaten sanctions if it does not comply, the Associated Press reported today (see GSN, July 18).

The text demands that Iran verifiably freeze uranium enrichment, as well as work on a heavy-water reactor, within a short period, said one council diplomat. The diplomat suggested that Iran would be given about 30 days to comply.

If Tehran did not comply, the council would then vote on sanctions under Article 41 of Chapter 7 in the U.N. Charter, according to AP (Edith Lederer, Associated Press/Easy Bourse, July 18).

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said an informal session on the proposed draft among the permanent members of the council yesterday “fizzled,” Reuters reported.

Bolton complained that Chinese and Russian delegates were not “prepared to discuss the substance” of the text. Other meeting participants told Reuters that envoys from Beijing and Moscow said they had yet to receive instructions from their capitals.

Further talks are planned for today, Reuters reported. Bolton said he hoped the council would adopt the resolution this week.

“We don’t see that there should be major objections to that,” he said (Evelyn Leopold, Reuters, July 18).

An Iranian lawmaker said yesterday that the country’s parliament could suspend its membership in the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty if the council passes a resolution demanding a moratorium on nuclear work, Agence France-Presse reported.

“If the Security Council wants to pass a resolution obliging a halt of uranium enrichment, parliament will undoubtedly bring up the issue of suspending Iran’s NPT membership,” said Alaeddin Borujerdi. “We hope that the Security Council does not make an unreasonable decision that changes Iran’s current attitude” (Agence France-Presse/Yahoo!News, July 18).

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