United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 was unanimously passed by the United Nations Security Council on 23 December 2006.cite news|title=Security Council imposes sanctions on Iran for failure to halt uranium enrichment, unanimously adopting Resolution 1737|url=http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2006/sc8928.doc.htm|publisher=United Nations|date=2006-12-23|accessdate=2006-12-23] The resolution, sponsored by France, Germany and the United Kingdom, [cite news|title=UNSC Resolution 1737 text|url=http://www.iranwatch.org/international/UNSC/unsc-resolution1737-122306.htm|date=2006-12-23|accessdate=2006-12-24 ] imposed sanctions against Iran for failing to stop its uranium enrichment program following resolution 1696. It banned the supply of nuclear-related technology and materials and froze the assets of key individuals and companies related to the enrichment program. It took place two months after the creation of a draft-resolution, which was amended several times after objections from Russia and China. [cite news |title=UN passes Iran nuclear sanctions |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6205295.stm |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=2006-12-23 |accessdate=2006-12-23 ] These objections were evident, as it took a last minute call from Russian President Vladimir Putin to U.S. President George W. Bush to finalize the vote. [cite news |title= Security Council imposes sanctions on Iran |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/23/un.iran.ap/index.html |work=CNN |date=2006-12-23 |accessdate=2006-12-23 ] The resolution came after the rejection of UN economic incentives for Iran to halt their nuclear enrichment program. The sanctions will be lifted if Iran suspends the "suspect activities" within 60 days to the satisfaction of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iranian response

Iran responded by condemning the resolution and criticizing the Security Council. Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign Ministry, said the resolution "cannot affect or limit Iran's peaceful nuclear activities, but will discredit the decisions of the Security Council, whose power is deteriorating." Because the resolution is under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter, it cannot be enforced through the use of military means. [cite news |title= Iran denounces U.N. sanctions as illegal|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/23/iran.nuclear.reut/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=2006-12-23 |accessdate=2006-12-23] The Iranian Ambassador to the U.N, M. Javad Zarif, also replied to the resolution, “A nation is being punished for exercising its inalienable rights,” accusing the council of acting at the “behest of a dangerous regime with aggression and war crimes as its signature brand of behavior,” referring to Israel, whose Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, allegedly took steps towards the disambiguation of Israel's suspected nuclear arsenal. [cite news |title= Iran rejects U.N. resolution and accuses Security Council of hypocrisy |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20061223-1548-un-iransview.html |publisher=San Diego Union Tribune |date=2006-12-23 |accessdate=2006-12-25]

In reaction to the resolution, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated "I am sorry for you who lost the opportunity for friendship with the nation of Iran. You yourself know that you cannot damage the nation of Iran an iota." Hosseini, the foreign ministry spokesman, vowed that Iran's relationship with the UN nuclear watchdog would change. [cite news |title=Iran's leader: U.N. will regret nuclear sanctions |url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/24/un.iran.ap/index.html |publisher=CNN |date=2006-12-24 |accessdate=2006-12-25]

List of individuals and entities with frozen assets

The resolution lists the following individuals and organizations in an annex, as the initial list of people and organizations whose assets are asked to be frozen:

Nuclear program

Ballistic missile program

In addition to the above, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi, Commander in Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, is listed in a separate group and is claimed to be involved in both of the nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Russian missile sale

After the Resolution was passed, Russia sold an unspecified number of surface-to-air missiles of the Tor-M1 type to Iran [http://www.jg-tc.com/articles/2007/01/25/ap/international/d8mrv6ro1.txt] .

ee also

* Sanctions Against Iran
* Current international tensions with Iran

References