IRAN: CONCERN OVER IAEA REPORT, SANCTIONS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 USUN NEW YORK 001154 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PARM MNUC ETTC KNNP IR UNSC SUBJECT: IRAN: CONCERN OVER IAEA REPORT, SANCTIONS VIOLATIONS USUN NEW Y 00001154 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: On June 15, the chair of the Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee ("1737 Committee") briefed the Council on the Committee's activities over the previous ninety days, highlighting the response to two reported sanctions violations and noting "with grave concern an apparent pattern of sanctions violations." Ambassador Rice highlighted troubling findings in the IAEA Director General's latest report, condemned the pattern of sanctions violations and said recent events underscored the need for full implementation of UN sanctions on Iran. If Iran continues to fail to meet its obligations, she said, then the international community will have to consider further actions. The UK and French Perm Reps expressed similar concerns, with both calling for new sanctions if Iran continues to reject engagement. The Libyan Perm Rep criticized the Council's lack of attention to Israel's nuclear program. The Russian Perm Rep called the Iranian nuclear issue "not simple," held open the possibility for renewed dialogue and asserted that Iran was taking seriously the signal sent by the recent IAEA Board of Governors resolution. The Chinese Perm Rep also suggested that there was still space for the international community to resume talks with Iran. END SUMMARY. ¶2. On December 10, Japanese Perm Rep Takasu, chair of the Security Council's Iran Sanctions Committee ("1737 Committee"),briefed the Council on the Committee's activities over the previous ninety days. He explained that during this reporting period the Committee had received two reports of sanctions violations, both were violations of the export ban on arms and related materiel from Iran contained in resolution 1747. Takasu said that the Committee has studied these reports and "notes with grave concern an apparent pattern of sanctions violations involving prohibited arms transfers from Iran." ¶3. Takasu explained the circumstances of the two reported violations (the "Hansa India" and the "Francop" incidents) and described the Committee's initial efforts to write to the two states involved in the prohibited transfer to ask for an explanation. In both instances, he said, the state that reported the incident said that it had retained and stored the cargo. ¶4. Ambassador Rice said the IAEA Director General's latest report on Iran underscored Iran's refusal to comply with its international obligations and fully cooperate with the IAEA. She listed specific findings in that report regarding Iran's non-cooperation. Rice condemned the three sanctions violations reported to the 1737 Committee this year, all involving the transfer of arms or ammunition from Iran to Syria. Rice applauded the responsible actions of Member States to disrupt these illicit arms transfers and encouraged the Committee to respond vigorously. Recent events, she said, including the discovery of the Qom facility, Iran's announced intention to build new enrichment plants, Iran's prohibited arms transfers, underscored the renewed urgency of robust implementation of UN sanctions on Iran. Rice regretted Iran's failure to take advantage of the IAEA-brokered deal regarding the transfer of material for the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). She reaffirmed U.S. willingness to engage with Iran, but added that "should Iran continue to fail to meet its obligations, the international community will have to consider further actions." ¶5. French Perm Rep Araud also condemned the pattern of arms transfers from Iran, saying that they were destabilizing the region and that he was not happy with a response that consisted only of writing letters that received no reply. He regretted Iran's refusal to accept the TRR deal, noted Iran's violations of its IAEA obligations and highlighted elements of the November 27 IAEA Board of Governors resolution. "If Iran continues to be in violation of five Security Council resolutions," Araud said, "then we must move to a new sanctions resolution." ¶6. UK Perm Rep Lyall-Grant also referred to the "pattern" of sanctions violations and thanked states for their prompt and responsible actions to indict and report the illicit transfer. Lyall-Grant also highlighted troubling elements of the IAEA Director General's recent report, including its findings about the Qom enrichment facility. He called the TRR deal a fair offer and said Iran's approach of delaying discussions was an attempt to "buy time and divide the international community." Lyall-Grant urged Iran to accept the outstretched hand offered to it, but added that if Iran chooses not to engage then further sanctions are needed. ¶7. Libyan Deputy Perm Rep Dabbashi called for the peaceful USUN NEW Y 00001154 002.2 OF 002 resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue. He drew a negative parallel with Iraq, saying "what happened in Iraq, should not happen elsewhere, especially not based upon groundless information." He criticized the Security Council's lack of action regarding Israel's nuclear program and Israel's refusal to allow IAEA inspections of its nuclear facilities. ¶8. Russian Perm Rep Churkin said the 1737 Committee should continue considering the reported sanctions violations and act within the letter and spirit of its mandate. The Iranian nuclear issue is, he said, "not simple" and the six countries principally involved had not discarded the possibility of renewed dialogue. Churkin called for patience and calm, saying he believed Iran was taking seriously the signal sent by the recent IAEA Board of Governors resolution. ¶9. Chinese Perm Rep Zhang noted the "different views" on the TRR deal, but said that the path to resolving the Iranian nuclear issues is still not blocked and there is space for the international community to resume talks. This may require, he said, more time and patience. Zhang reiterated support for the peaceful resolution of the issue through diplomatic means. RICE