Thaindian News

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – The United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted Resolution 1929 on Wednesday, imposing a strong, broad-based new set of sanctions on Iran.

The international community said Iran has continued its refusal to comply with its international obligations regarding its nuclear program, and as a response, Resolution 1929 was passed. The UN had previously sanctioned Iran on three occasions.

Wednesday’s approved Resolution will be increasing the cost to Iran’s leadership of their continued defiance of the international community, and aims to persuade Iran that it is in its interest to peacefully resolve concerns about its nuclear program.

The resolution demands the suspension of Iran’s enrichment program and other proscribed nuclear activities, underlining Iran’s existing obligations to accept and facilitate the implementation of rigorous international safeguards on its nuclear program.

“This Treaty is the principal international legal instrument for holding member states accountable, discouraging the spread of nuclear weapons, and bringing the benefits of nuclear energy to all corners of the world,” said Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN.

The U.S. State Department said that the resolution complements the United States’ diplomatic efforts to engage Iran.

“We will continue to work with our international partners to forge a peaceful solution. The United States remains open to dialogue, but Iran must live up to its obligations and clearly demonstrate to the international community the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities,” the department said.

Iranian Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali Asghar Soltanieh spoke to the agency’s Board of Governors in Vienna on Wednesday, before the sanctions were approved.

“Iran will not compromise on its inalienable rights under the [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] and the IAEA’s Articles of Association,” he said, stating that Iran had not denied IAEA inspectors access to its nuclear facilities, nor has it withdrawn from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

However, for Ambassador Rice, the Resolution is clear, “[banning] all Iranian activities related to ballistic missiles that could deliver a nuclear weapon. [The resolution] imposes a comprehensive framework of cargo inspections to detect and stop Iran’s smuggling and acquisition of illicit materials or nuclear items.”

In addition, the sanctions have been designed to target individuals and entities who are most responsible for Iran’s nuclear program. They are not directed to the people of Iran, the UN said.

Rice emphasized this by saying that Iran has further isolated itself by not complying to its international obligations and increasing its nuclear ambitions. “These sanctions are not directed at the Iranian people. Nor do the sanctions seek to stop Iran from the legitimate exercise of its rights under the NPT, in conformity with its obligations. Rather, the sanctions aim squarely at the nuclear ambitions of a government that has chosen a path that will lead to increased isolation,” Rice said.

Furthermore, the resolution highlights the potential linkage between Iran’s energy sector revenues and procurement and its nuclear activities and proliferation, underlining the need to exercise vigilance over all Iranian banks — specifically including the Central Bank of Iran — to prevent proliferation-related transactions.