IAEA Reports on Iran's Continued Defiance; UNSC Must Swiftly Enact Sanctions

Vital Perspectives:

We've just received a copy of the IAEA report being distributed to diplomats at the UN today on Iran's nuclear program. Read the whole IAEA report exclusively here on Vital Perspective. As Sean McCormack, spokesman for the State Department said today, over the past three months Iran has "continued along the pathway to developing a nuclear weapon, continued in their defiance of the international community." READ MORE

The IAEA report details the progress that Iran has achieved, noting the continued testing of P-1 centrifuges with UF6 and the installation of a second 164-centrifuge cascade. It also details Iran's continued stonewalling and lack of cooperation with the IAEA. According to the report, Iran has not made any new information available on their P-1 and P-2 centrifuge programs. Iran has not provided a copy of a 15-page document describing procedures for the reduction of UF6 to uranium metal, which is critical to understanding the full scope of offers made by 'foreign intermediaries.' Iran has not been forthcoming with clarification on is plutonium separation experiments. Iran has not issued multiple entry visas to weapons inspectors on time. Iran refuses to discuss Project Green Salt, address verification and transparency issues, suspend enrichment related activities or act in accordance with the Additional Protocol. As a result, the IAEA still cannot make a determination as to the nature of the Iranian nuclear program.

It is crucial that the Security Council move swiftly and decisively to enact sanctions against the regime. Unfortunately, it looks as if John Bolton is going to have his work cut out for him. The Chinese ambassador said today that there was still more time for dialogue with Iran, as opposed to sanctions. Responding to that issue today, Bolton said "the foreign minister of China, some months ago, agreed with the foreign ministers of the other permanent members of the Security Council in Germany that if Iran did not fully suspend its uranium enrichment activity they would support coming to the Council to seek economic sanctions. And I would assume that the governments in question would live up to the commitment that their foreign ministers have made."