Iran Nuclear News: August 1, 2006

Iran Nuclear News: August 1, 2006

“UN sets deadline on Iran’s nuclear work,” The L.A. Times, August 1, 2006
The Security Council voted Monday to give Iran until August 31 to "suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development" or face potential economic and diplomatic sanctions. UN Resolution 1696, approved by a 14-1 vote with Qatar dissenting, is the first by the Security Council that is legally binding on Iran and includes the threat of sanctions for noncompliance. However, sanctions would not be automatic. The Security Council would have to vote again to impose punitive measures. Vitaly Churkin, the Russian ambassador, played down the possibility of sanctions.

“China calls for restraint on Iran nuclear issue,” Reuters, August 1, 2006
China, which has just voted in favor of a U.N. resolution demanding Iran suspend its nuclear activities, on Tuesday still held out hopes for a compromise. “We hope that the Security Council resolution helps the on-going diplomatic efforts,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao was quoted as saying in a statement on the ministry's Web site. "We call on all sides to remain calm and exercise restraint and keep pushing for the early resumption of talks," Liu said.

“Iran blasts ‘worthless’ nuclear deadline,” Agence France Presse, August 1, 2006
The UN resolution passed on Monday was decried as “destructive and totally unwarranted” by Iran's UN ambassador, Javad Zarif. Parliament speaker Gholam-Ali Hadad-Adel also expressed outrage at the resolution saying, “While the Security Council does not dare to condemn the Qana massacre (in south Lebanon) ... it feels alarmed by Iran's nuclear activities and adopts a resolution that is worthless in the eyes of people.” Kazem Jalali, spokesman for the Iranian parliament's foreign affairs commission, was quoted as saying, “The Americans must be sure that Iran will not take part in a game which it will lose.” Several editorials and articles in various hardline Iranian papers also slammed the UN resolution, calling on Iran to quit the NPT and attack U.S. bases, among other things.