Global Policy Forum

Iran Warns Of Nuclear Program Confrontation 'Consequences'

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Nasdaq
March 25, 2007

Iran's foreign minister on Sunday criticized the U.N. Security Council for imposing new sanctions against his country for refusing to halt uranium enrichment, warning confrontation "will have its own consequences." The council voted unanimously on Saturday to levy a second round of sanctions against Tehran for its failure to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can be used to produce nuclear energy or weapons. Iran immediately rejected the sanctions and on Sunday announced a partial suspension of cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a news conference in New York that "a few select countries do not have the right to abuse the Security Council." "The Security Council has to be aware of its own position and status. Actions that are illegal, unwarranted and unjustified ... reduce the credibility of the Security Council," he said in Persian through a translator.

He said Iran has repeatedly sought negotiations with the powers that drafted the resolution against the Islamic regime: the five permanent council members - the U.S., the U.K., France, Russia and China - and Germany. But he accused those countries of lacking the political will to reach a diplomatic solution. "If this political will existed, the other side wouldn't have imposed preconditions on the talks," Mottaki said, referring to demands by the U.S. and its allies that Iran first halt enrichment before engaging in negotiations on its nuclear program. He said the Iranian government will examine the resolution and issue a response in the next few days. He added the world has two options to proceed on the nuclear issue: continued negotiations or confrontation. "Choosing the path of confrontation ... will have its own consequences," he said without elaborating. In Berlin, European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Sunday he wanted to immediately resume talks with Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani. He said the West remains committed to a "twin track" approach with Iran - gradually imposing tougher sanctions if it refuses to halt enrichment, while offering economic and political advantages if it falls into line. "The door is open for negotiations, let's see if together we can go through," he told reporters.

In response to the new sanctions, Iran announced Sunday it was partially suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency - the U.N. nuclear watchdog. Gholam Hossein Elham, a government spokesman, said the Iranian Cabinet decided to suspend a provision that called on the government to inform the IAEA of any new steps and decisions made in its atomic program. "This will continue until Iran's nuclear case is referred back to the IAEA from the U.N Security Council," Elham told state television. On Saturday, Nicholas Burns, undersecretary for political affairs at the State Department, said the U.S. would seek a third and tougher U.N. resolution against Iran if it continues to defy the world body. "It's a significant international rebuke to Iran and it's a significant tightening of international pressure on Iran," Burns said. The U.S. and some of its allies fear Iran's nuclear program is a cover for producing atomic weapons. The sanctions passed by the Security Council on Saturday ban Iranian arms exports and freeze the assets of 28 people and organizations involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs. About a third of those are linked to the Revolutionary Guard, an elite military corps. The new sanctions follow penalties the council imposed on Iran in December, ordering all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs, and freezing the assets of 10 Iranian companies and 12 individuals tied to those programs. Iran responded to those sanctions by expanding nuclear enrichment, maintaining it has a right to pursue a peaceful atomic energy program as a member of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

 

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