In December, the 15-member Security Council ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs. It also ordered a freeze on assets of 10 key Iranian companies and 12 individuals related to those programs.
According to the Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry of Britain, "this resolution sends an unambiguous signal to the government and people of Iran (…) that the path of nuclear proliferation by Iran is not one that the international community can accept" and gives clear indication that Iran will face stricter sanctions each time it ignores a Security Council deadline to suspend uranium enrichment.
Following the adoption of resolution 1747, Iran has immediately declared that it will never give up its right to enrich uranium, the country's nuclear programme being peaceful and not driven by military ambitions as the United States and others fear, and that the sanctions will only motivate it further to pursue nuclear power, a message delivered by the Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki to the Security Council. Mottaki was made the trip instead of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who said he canceled his appearance because the United States failed to deliver his visa in time.
The six world powers - the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany - that drafted the resolution spent Friday trying to overcome objections from several council members, reflecting concerns that anything short of consensus would weaken efforts to rein in Iran.
The new sanctions, that are already a compromise between the stronger measures favored by the United States and the Europeans and the softer approach advocated by Russian and China, are considered modest. The resolution imposes in particular a strict import/export ban on Iranian weapons, deciding that “Iran shall not supply, sell or transfer directly or indirectly from its territory or by its nationals or using its flag vessels or aircraft any arms or related materiel, and that all States shall prohibit the procurement of such items from Iran by their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, and whether or not originating in the territory of Iran.” This ban on exports is certainly among the harshest measures, even if many of Iran's arms sales may not be affected because they are illicitly sent to militant groups.
The resolution also reaffirms that Iran must take the steps required by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has called for a full and sustained suspension of all enrichment activities and for the ratification and implementation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty's (NPT) Additional Protocol granting the IAEA expanded rights of access to information and sites.
States are called on "to exercise vigilance and restraint regarding the entry into or transit through their territories of individuals who are engaged in, directly associated with or providing support for Iran's proliferation sensitive nuclear activities or for the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems". Any such persons should be reported to the Council's Iran sanctions committee. A designated list of individuals banned from travel is annexed to the resolution, but its provisions also apply to others not listed who are involved in Iran's nuclear weapons programme.
Except for humanitarian or development aid, States and international financial institutions should not provide funds to Iran, according to the resolution. All countries have 60 days to report to the Iran sanctions Committee on steps they have taken to give effect to the resolution.
Underlining a willingness to work positively for a diplomatic solution, the Security Council resolution encourages Iran, "to re-engage with the international community and with the IAEA".
The Director-General of the IAEA is to report back to the Council within 60 days on Iran's nuclear programme. Then, the Security Council will review Iran's actions in light of that report and will suspend the sanctions only “if and for so long as Iran suspends all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, as verified by the IAEA, to allow for negotiations in good faith in order to reach an early and mutually acceptable outcome”. The measures will be terminated once Iran has complied with all Security Council demands, which would contribute to realize the objective of “a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction”.
For recall, Iran's nuclear programme has been a matter of international concern since the discovery in 2003 that it had concealed its nuclear activities for 18 years in breach of its obligations under the NPT.