Finally, A Security Council Resolution on Iran With Some Teeth!

By Victor Comras

Iran’s leaders should surely take note of today’s Security Council action imposing a new round of sanctions on them for their continuing defiance of international non-proliferation norms. The measures included in UN Security Council Resolution 1803 appear to go well beyond previous resolutions, and for the first time may actually have some bite.

The new measures reportedly include an unequivocal ban on nuclear and related dual use equipment and technology exports to Iran, as well as the authority to inspect suspect air or sea cargoes destined for Iran. The new resolution also reportedly includes expanded asset freeze measures, and a real travel ban for an expanded list of targeted individuals and entities involved in these targeted activities (as opposed to the "exercise vigilance" over their travel that was contained in previous resolutions). And, it imposes new restrictions on certain export credits for Iran.

Of particular note is a new sanctions provision that calls for increased caution, due diligence and monitoring of dealings with any of Iran's banks. This measure builds on the sanctions measures already adopted with respect to Bank Sepah, and US actions directed against Bank Saderat and Bank Melli, and their branches and subsidiaries based abroad. It also builds on The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) February 28th Statement warning to all financial institutions "to take the risk arising from the deficiencies in Iran's {Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-terrorism Financing} regime into account for enhanced due diligence."

The 14 to 0 vote (Indonesia abstaining), and the fact that Libya, Vietnam and South Africa actually voted in favor of the resolution, should bring home to Iran’s leaders that the international community is losing patience and is now increasingly likely to go along with increasingly stern measures to convince Iran to comply. More importantly, Russia and China, for the first time, went beyond mere wrist slapping sanctions, and agreed to impose measures that entail real costs, and dangers, for Iran. Their statements in the Security Council, and their recent actions at the negotiating table with Iran, make it clear that Iran’s leaders can no longer count on them to block additional measures that might be necessary to convince Iran to change course. This development was presaged a few days ago, also, when the signing of the impending China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC) deal with Iran to develop the northern Pars gas field was postponed.

Iran's leader should also know that their major trading partners in Europe and Japan are also increasingly committed to take further steps, unilaterally, if necessary, to place increased pressure and sanctions on Iran to prevent them from gaining nuclear weapons capability.

None of this means that these new Security Council measures will do the trick. That's not likely. This issue is much more likely to challenge us for some time yet, and may well bring us to the brink before any real progress is made. Nevertheless, given the very wrong signals sent by the previous two effete resolutions, this new resolution (1803) is an important first step in bringing home to Iran's leaders that their uranium enrichment project is ill-advised and that it will prove much more costly, and much less advantagous to the projection of their national interests than they now imagine.

Unfortunately, Iran’s fanatical leadership continues to appear blind to the writing on the wall and to the truth that their best course would be to suspend uranium enrichment and take up the EU+ generous June 2006 offer which is apparently still on the table.

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