March 30, 2006
The United Nations Security Council has reached agreement on a joint "presidential statement" concerning Iran's nuclear ambitions. It demands that Tehran suspend all uranium enrichment activities. Diplomats hailed the step as an important breakthrough, but it is unclear what impact the statement will have on the Iranian government, which insists it will proceed with its nuclear development plans. The "presidential statement", which is not legally binding and falls short of a resolution, expresses "serious concerns" about Iran's failure to comply with a series of steps laid out by the International Atomic Energy Agency. Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful means, but the statement notes "that the IAEA is unable to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran." The statement asks IAEA head Mohamed El Baradei to report back to the Security Council in 30 days regarding Iran's compliance.
Tehran's UN ambassador, Javad Zarif, was quoted by "Reuters" as saying that Iran would not bow to international threats to give up its right to nuclear energy, adding his country was "allergic to pressure." The Islamic Republic claims that it only wants civilian nuclear power. Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said neither his government nor China would tolerate the use of force against Tehran. "As many of our European colleagues have said and as our Chinese friends have said many times, any ideas of resolving the matter by compulsion and force are extremely counterproductive and cannot be supported," Lavrov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency "Interfax".
Read about the WJC's compaign for international condemnation of President Ahmadinejad
