S/PV.5743 Security Council

I now give the floor to those Council members who wish to make comments.

My delegation wishes to express its appreciation for Ambassador Verbeke’s continued leadership as the Chairman of the Security Council Sanctions Committee established pursuant to resolution 1737 (2006) and for his report to the Council today. Ambassador Verbeke’s efforts have been essential in the Committee’s execution of its mandate as described in his report, especially in encouraging States to submit reports detailing their efforts to implement the Chapter VII sanctions imposed by the Council on Iran in resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007). In that context, we note that, while the number of reports received continues to rise, many are still outstanding. We urge all States that have not yet submitted their implementation reports to do so as soon as possible. Ambassador Verbeke’s report also highlights a request made by the Committee to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for an update to its March 2007 report describing its implementation of paragraph 16 of resolution 1737 (2006), which relates to IAEA technical cooperation with Iran. Additional details with respect to other technical assistance to Iran were also requested. While we are still assessing the IAEA’s response to that request, we note that the IAEA has evaluated 27 requests for IAEA technical assistance against the restrictions imposed in Security Council resolution 1737 (2006), finding three to be contrary to what operative paragraph 6 prohibits. We would welcome any additional details that the IAEA could share on the nature and content of those requests, as well as the 24 permitted to proceed. We propose that the Sanctions Committee draft a follow-up letter to the IAEA, seeking additional details. Many months have passed since the adoption of resolutions 1737 (2006) and 1747 (2007), and unfortunately Iran has complied with neither of them. To the contrary, IAEA Director General El-Baradei’s reports of 23 May (S/2007/303, annex) and 30 August (IAEA document GOV/2007/48) confirm that Iran has failed to suspend its uranium enrichment and heavy- water-related activities, as required by the Council. Although the IAEA workplan holds potential towards resolving the IAEA’s myriad outstanding concerns with Iran’s nuclear programme — if Iran fully cooperates — Iran persists in defying the Security Council’s requirement to suspend its proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities. The United States once again calls on Iran to change its confrontational course, suspend its proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities and cooperate fully and unconditionally with the IAEA. Doing so would begin the process of restoring international confidence in the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and would permit negotiations to commence with Iran on the generous offer of the Permanent Five plus one. Our delegation looks forward to continuing to work with others in the Committee to execute its mandate and ensure the most robust and comprehensive implementation possible of these resolutions in order to persuade Iran to abandon its pursuit of a nuclear weapons capability.

There are no further speakers on my list. The Security Council has thus concluded the present stage of its consideration of the item on its agenda.