UN nuclear body unites to condemn Iran's plans

Published on Friday 27 November 2009 21:39

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog's board censured Iran yesterday, with 25 nations backing a resolution demanding that Tehran immediately freeze construction of its newly revealed nuclear facility and heed Security Council resolutions to stop uranium enrichment.

• The Iranian army readies its anti-aircraft defences as part of manoeuvres testing its ability to repel any attacks on its nuclear facilities. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

Iran's chief representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Ali Asghar Soltaniyeh, said: "Neither resolutions of the board of governors nor those of the United Nations Security Council … neither sanctions nor the threat of military attacks can interrupt peaceful nuclear activities in Iran, even for a second."

Iran argues that its nuclear programme is aimed at creating a peaceful nuclear energy network to serve its growing population.

The United States and other nations believe Iran's nuclear programme has the goal of creating nuclear weapons.

The IAEA resolution criticised Iran for defying a UN Security Council ban on uranium enrichment – used in nuclear fuel and warheads.

It also censured Iran for secretly building a uranium enrichment facility and demanded it suspend further construction.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown, at a Commonwealth summit in Trinidad, called the resolution "the strongest and most definitive statement yet made by the countries who are very worried about nuclear ambitions on the part of Iran".

The resolution – and the resulting vote of the IAEA's 35-nation decision-making board – were significant on several counts.

The resolution was endorsed by the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, reflecting a rare measure of unity on Iran.

Previously, Moscow and Beijing have been reluctant to punish Iran for its nuclear defiance, either preventing new UN Security Council sanctions or watering them down.

Glyn Davies, chief US delegate to the IAEA, said: "Six nations … for the first time came together … (and] have put together this resolution we all agreed on. That's a significant development."

The backing of Moscow and Beijing also appeared to signal possible support for any new push for a fourth set of UN sanctions, should Tehran continue to reject plans to reach agreements to reduce concerns about its nuclear programme.

Mr Brown said he thought "the next stage will have to be sanctions if Iran doesn't respond to what is a very clear vote from the world community".

German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said: "Our hand is still held out. I hope Iran will take it. Iran must know: our patience is not infinite."

Mr Davies declined to discuss sanctions but also indicated time was running out: "The United States remains firmly committed to a peaceful resolution to international concerns over Iran's nuclear programme. We also remain willing to engage Iran to work toward a diplomatic solution to the nuclear dilemma it has created itself, if Iran would only choose such a course.

"But our patience and that of the international community is limited," Mr Davies said, urging Tehran to "demonstrate its exclusively peaceful intent, rather than to carry out more evasions and unilateral interpretations of its obligations".

The White House said the vote showed "growing international deficit of confidence" in Iran's intentions.

White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the vote "demonstrates the resolve and unity" of the international community concerning Iran's programme.

Norway protests after Iran seizes Nobel peace laureate's medal

NORWAY has expressed fury after Iran seized Nobel peace laureate Shirin Ebadi's medal and other pro-democracy accolades.

The move against the human rights lawyer, who is Iran's first female judge, comes amid increasingly drastic steps by Tehran against any dissent.

In Norway, where the peace prize is awarded, foreign minister Jonas Gahr Stoere called the move "shocking" and the first such incident in the 108-year history of the prize. The Norwegian foreign ministry summoned Iran's charg d'affaires in Oslo on Wednesday to protest at the seizure.

The ministry also "expressed grave concern" about Ms Ebadi's husband, who it said was arrested in Tehran and "severely beaten", a few weeks ago, then had his pension and bank account frozen.

The Nobel Committee's permanent secretary, Geir Lundestad, said Iran's move was "unheard of" and "unacceptable" and the committee would protest to Tehran authorities.

However, Iran's foreign ministry said Norway had no right to criticise Iran for enforcing its tax laws.

In addition to seizing the awards, the Iranian authorities froze the bank accounts of Ms Ebadi and her husband and demanded 245,000 in taxes on the 780,000 Nobel prize.