Continued U.S. efforts to counter Iran's nuclear program.

• Author: Crook, John R.

The United States has continued diplomatic and other efforts aimed at persuading Iran to end its nuclear enrichment program, which the United States and other concerned countries see as the precursor to the development of nuclear weapons. In December 2006 (1) and March 2007, (2) the UN Security Council adopted two resolutions under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, imposing mandatory sanctions intended to dissuade Iran from continuing its enrichment program. Iran, which insists that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes, rejected both resolutions, and continued work on enrichment. Given the apparent lack of progress, discussions began in mid-2007 of a possible third sanctions resolution. (3)

In January 2008, the foreign ministers of the five permanent members of the Security Council, along with Germany, agreed to adopt a third resolution that would tighten and incrementally increase the previous sanctions. The new measures endorsed by the foreign ministers were considerably weaker than those initially proposed by Britain and France. Final agreement required two months of additional negotiations and further dilution of the sanctions initially proposed. (4)

As these negotiations continued in February, diplomats accredited to the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran had begun processing small quantities of uranium gas in a new generation of domestically produced centrifuges. (5) In a technical presentation to diplomats in early March, the IAEA's chief inspector presented detailed evidence, derived from several countries, said to show past work by Iran "not consistent with any application other than the development of a nuclear weapon." (6)

Soon thereafter, the Security Council adopted the third sanctions resolution by a vote of 14-0-1 (Indonesia abstained). (7) In addition to authorizing inspections of cargo on Iran Air Cargo flights and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines vessels if there are "reasonable grounds" to suspect that they carry prohibited items, Resolution 1803 tightens monitoring of Iranian financial institutions, calls upon states to avoid transactions with Bank Melli and Bank Saderat that might promote nuclear activities, and imposes financial sanctions and travel restrictions on designated individuals and firms associated with Iran's nuclear program. (8) Excerpts follow:

3. [The Security Council] [c]alls upon all States to exercise vigilance and restraint regarding the entry into or transit...