Face-off with Iran takes tougher turn
Tehran spurned UN Security Council sanctions Sunday as it still held 15 British captives.
from the March 26, 2007 edition
Page 4 of 4
"In the background, the fact is the nuclear program is only a symptom of the problem," says Mr. Chubin, author of "Iran's Nuclear Ambitions."
"Because the nature of Iran's activities in the region – that is anti-Americanism – is what animates most of the skepticism and the distrust of Iran's motives ... which are unacceptable to the US and many European countries."
The second unanimous UN vote against Iran may again be symbolic and nonmilitary, but unlike Iran's past talks with European and other negotiators, "there is absolutely no wiggle room" about the requirement to suspend, says Chubin. "The Security Council has twice been able to vote against Iran, but it's been unable to vote on Darfur. That tells you the Russians and Chinese are serious about this."
The result is concern in Tehran, on an issue that ranks high in national pride. Iran last week released a new 50,000 rial banknote, the largest denomination, that showed an atomic symbol over a map of Iran, and words from the prophet Muhammad: "If knowledge is in the heavens, the Persians will go and get it."
"For the last six months, the military forces of Iran have been under very high pressure – not only in Arbil, but in Istanbul, in Lebanon, everywhere in the world," says analyst Laylaz.
"The US is trying to make them nervous, and more or less it seems they have been successful," he adds. "And because of this, the system [Iran's Islamic regime] should do something. They have to react against that action."
New UN sanctions
UN Security Council Resolution 1747 tightens the Dec. 23 sanctions on Iran. The new resolution:
• Tells Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and reprocessing, and heavy water-related reactor projects. The IAEA is to report
within 60 days on compliance.
• Extends an assets freeze to 28 additional groups, companies, and individuals engaged in nuclear activities or development
of ballistic missiles. The new list includes the state-owned Bank Sepah and commanders and firms controlled by Iran's Revolutionary
Guards.
• Imposes an embargo exports of conventional weapons and calls on countries to "exercise vigilance and restraint" in importing
weapons to Iran.
• Calls on nations and international financial institutions not to give financial aid or loans to Iran except for humanitarian
and developmental purposes.
• Calls on nations to "exercise vigilance and restraint" in barring travel by Iranian officials engaged in sensitive nuclear
activities.
-Reuters
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