Iran's top U.N. envoy criticized a proposed resolution on its nuclear program
that carried a threat of further action which could include sanctions, charging
Thursday that it's aimed at provoking confrontation rather than resolving the
dispute.
Javad Zarif, Iranian
Ambassador to the U.N. laughs at a meeting of the five permanent members
of Security Council at the United Nations headquarters in New York to
discuss the Iranian nuclear program Thursday, May 4, 2006.
[AP] |
Ambassador Javad Zarif said it was regrettable the United States, Britain and
France were taking a confrontational approach because "there are a multitude of
possibilities for finding a peaceful resolution."
"If anything, the draft indicates the intention of those who drafted it to
create a crisis where a crisis is not needed, to create an atmosphere of tension
which our region does not need, and which can be avoided simply by allowing
serious, reasonable, sober discussion," he said.
Under the proposed draft, the Security Council's demand in late March for
Iran to stop enrichment would be made mandatory, and Tehran would be given a
short period to comply. If it refuses, the resolution says the council intends
to consider "further measures" to ensure compliance.
The sponsors want the resolution adopted under Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter
which can be enforced by sanctions — or if necessary — military action. The
draft also includes a declaration that the "proliferation risk" posed by Iran
constitutes a threat to international peace and security.
The resolution, which was introduced Wednesday by Britain and France and was
strongly supported by the U.S., put the three Western allies at odds with Russia
and China, the two other veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council
who adamantly oppose strong council action and sanctions.
The five permanent members met Thursday afternoon to discuss the text and
agreed to meet again Friday morning.
China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said there was a better understanding of
each other's views but "we have some different views about Chapter 7."
U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the United States is trying to achieve
unanimity among the five permanent members and the major issues are putting the
resolution under Chapter 7 and calling Iran a threat to international peace and
security.
"I believe the resolution does not serve any purpose other than pushing the
issue into a confrontation," Zarif said. "There are possibilities for
cooperation but this resolution ... indicates the intention of the drafters of
the resolution to prevent cooperation and to move into confrontation."
Zarif reiterated that Iran "does not respond well to threat and
intimidation."
"I think Iran has made it very clear that we are prepared to move forward
with transparency measures. Iran is prepared to a negotiated solution," he told
reporters.
Bolton countered that "the only confrontation here is provided by the
Iranians. ... If they'd give up the pursuit of nuclear weapons, all kinds of
things would be possible."
Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for a peaceful nuclear energy
program under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Iranian authorities say the
country is trying to achieve self-sufficiency in the technology despite growing
international pressure to stop enrichment because of concerns that Iran's real
goal is to produce nuclear weapons.
Zarif said the real issue is not suspending enrichment — which Iran did for
two years with no results — but to find a way to implement two pillars of the
Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, guaranteeing Iran's rights and guaranteeing
nonproliferation.
"Iran is certainly ready for both these elements and we will do everything
possible in order to guarantee them both," he said.
Britain's U.N. Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said the supporters of the
resolution prefer cooperation but the report by Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the
U.N. nuclear watchdog, said Iran had refused the council's demand to halt
enrichment.
"We've been on this case for 2 1/2 years," he said. "All the time we were
talking, Iran was developing enrichment capability and research and development
capability."