United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737
Encyclopedia
United Nations
Security Council Resolution
1737 was unanimously passed by the United Nations Security Council
on 23 December 2006.
The resolution, sponsored by France
, Germany
and the United Kingdom
, 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
. These objections were evident, as it took a last minute call from Russian President
Vladimir Putin
to U.S. President
George W. Bush
to finalise the vote. The resolution came after Iran rejected economic incentives put forward by the permanent five members of the Security Council plus Germany for Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.
, requires Iran to suspend certain "proliferation sensitive nuclear activities." It places several prohibitions on all states with regards to Iran's nuclear activities. The Security Council also imposed a freeze on those assets supporting or associated with Iran's proliferation nuclear activities and established a committee to oversee their implementation. It also provided a deadline for Iran to comply with the resolution. The sanctions would be lifted if Iran suspended the "suspect activities" within 60 days to the satisfaction of the International Atomic Energy Agency
.
, 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.
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
.
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.
People:
People:
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.
sold an unspecified number of surface-to-air missiles of the Tor-M1 type to Iran.
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Security Council Resolution
United Nations Security Council Resolution
A United Nations Security Council resolution is a UN resolution adopted by the fifteen members of the Security Council; the UN body charged with "primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security"....
1737 was unanimously passed by the United Nations Security Council
United Nations Security Council
The United Nations Security Council is one of the principal organs of the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace and security. Its powers, outlined in the United Nations Charter, include the establishment of peacekeeping operations, the establishment of...
on 23 December 2006.
The resolution, sponsored by France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, imposed sanctions against Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
for failing to stop its uranium enrichment program
Nuclear program of Iran
The nuclear program of Iran was launched in the 1950s with the help of the United States as part of the Atoms for Peace program. The support, encouragement and participation of the United States and Western European governments in Iran's nuclear program continued until the 1979 Iranian Revolution...
following resolution 1696
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1696, adopted on July 31, 2006, after expressing concern at the intentions of the nuclear programme of Iran, the Council demanded that Iran halt its uranium enrichment programme....
. 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
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
. These objections were evident, as it took a last minute call from Russian President
President of the Russian Federation
The President of the Russian Federation is the head of state, supreme commander-in-chief and holder of the highest office within the Russian Federation...
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
to U.S. President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
to finalise the vote. The resolution came after Iran rejected economic incentives put forward by the permanent five members of the Security Council plus Germany for Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment programme.
Summary of resolution
The resolution, enacted under Chapter VII of the United Nations CharterChapter VII of the United Nations Charter
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter sets out the UN Security Council's powers to maintain peace. It allows the Council to "determine the existence of any threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression" and to take military and nonmilitary action to "restore international peace...
, requires Iran to suspend certain "proliferation sensitive nuclear activities." It places several prohibitions on all states with regards to Iran's nuclear activities. The Security Council also imposed a freeze on those assets supporting or associated with Iran's proliferation nuclear activities and established a committee to oversee their implementation. It also provided a deadline for Iran to comply with the resolution. The sanctions would be lifted if Iran suspended the "suspect activities" within 60 days to the satisfaction of the International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
.
Iranian response
Iran responded by condemning the resolution and criticizing the Security Council. Mohammad Ali Hosseini, a spokesman for Iran's Foreign MinistryMinister of Foreign Affairs (Iran)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is an Iranian government ministry. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is the Cabinet member in charge....
, 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
United Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
, it cannot be enforced through the use of military means.
The Iranian Ambassador to the U.N, M. Javad Zarif
M. Javad Zarif
Mohammad Javad Zarif , is a former Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations. He presented his credentials to the United Nations Secretary-General on August 5, 2002. From 1992 until his appointment to the U.N., he had worked as the Deputy Foreign Minister for...
, 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
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, whose Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
, Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert
Ehud Olmert is an Israeli politician and lawyer. He served as Prime Minister of Israel from 2006 to 2009, as a Cabinet Minister from 1988 to 1992 and from 2003 to 2006, and as Mayor of Jerusalem from 1993 to 2003....
, allegedly took steps towards the disambiguation of Israel's suspected nuclear arsenal
Israel and weapons of mass destruction
Israel is widely believed to possess weapons of mass destruction, and to be one of four nuclear-armed countries not recognized as a Nuclear Weapons State by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
.
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
International Atomic Energy Agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency is an international organization that seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and to inhibit its use for any military purpose, including nuclear weapons. The IAEA was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957...
would change.
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
Organizations:- Atomic Energy Organization of IranAtomic Energy Organization of IranThe Atomic Energy Organization of Iran is the main official body responsible for implementing regulations and operating nuclear energy installations in Iran....
- Mesbah Energy Company
- Kala-Electric
- Pars Trash Company
- Farayand Technique
- Defense Industries OrganizationDefense Industries OrganizationThe Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization The Defense Industries Organization (DIO; Persian: Sasadjah (Sazemane Sanaye Defa) is a conglomerate of companies run by the Islamic Republic of Iran whose function is to provide the military of Iran with the necessary...
- 7th of Tir
People:
- Mohammad Qannadi
- Behman Asgarpour
- Dawood Agha-Jani
- Ehsan Monajemi
- Jafar Mohammadi
- Ali Hajinia Leilabadi
- Mohmmad Mehdi Nejad Nouri
Ballistic missile program
Organizations:- Shahid Hemmat Industrial Group
- Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group
- Fajr Industrial Group
People:
- Hosein Salimi
- Ahmad Vahid Dastjerdi
- Reza-Gholi Esmaeli
- Morteza Bahmanyar
In addition to the above, Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi
Yahya Rahim Safavi
Major General Yahya Rahim Safavi is an Iranian military commander who served as the Chief commander of the Sepah from September 1, 1997 until September 1, 2007.-Early life:...
, Commander in Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps
The Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution , often called Revolutionary Guards, is a branch of Iran's military, founded after the Iranian revolution...
, 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, RussiaRussia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
sold an unspecified number of surface-to-air missiles of the Tor-M1 type to Iran.
See also
- Iran and weapons of mass destructionIran and weapons of mass destructionIran is not known to currently possess weapons of mass destruction and has signed treaties repudiating the possession of weapons of mass destruction including the Biological Weapons Convention, the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
- List of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1701 to 1800 (2006 – 2008)
- Nuclear programme of Iran
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747 was a United Nations Security Council resolution that tightened the sanctions imposed on Iran in connection with the Iranian nuclear program...