The United Nations Security Council's unanimous vote on Saturday
sent a clear message to Iran.
The country must respect Security Council resolutions and
International Atomic Energy Agency rules.
The new resolution, the second in three months, expanded
sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze uranium
enrichment.
The international community has demanded that Iran halt its
uranium enrichment program while the country insists its program is
for the peaceful purpose of generating nuclear energy.
Sanctions are not an end in themselves. They are the means to
bring Iran back to the world's nuclear nonproliferation regime.
The resolution "underlines the willingness of the international
community to work positively" for a diplomatic solution.
The door is clearly open for Iran to negotiate with the
international community.
Once again, the next move is Iran's. It should not let the
opportunity for cooperation slip.
The new resolution is somewhat stronger than the original
resolution.
The unanimous December resolution ordered all countries to stop
supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute
to nuclear and missile programs and to freeze assets of 10 key
Iranian companies and 12 individuals related to the programs.
The new resolution took sanctions against a longer list of
companies and individuals, freezing assets of 13 organizations and
companies and 15 individuals. Again, the IAEA is designated to
verify whether Iran implements the resolution, and the agency's
director is required to report to the Security Council in 60
days.
The resolution underlines the essential role the IAEA plays in
the world's nuclear nonproliferation.
With this new resolution, the Security Council reaffirmed the
clear way out for Iran: Cooperate with the international
community.
At the same time, members of the international community should
refrain from any unilateral efforts that could worsen the
crisis.
The settlement of the Iran nuclear issue will be a major step
forward in stabilizing the escalating dangers in the Middle
East.
(China Daily March 26, 2007)
