STATEMENT ON THE ADOPTION OF
UNSC RESOLUTION 1696
ON IRAN
BY
FRANK-WALTER STEINMEIER,
FEDERAL FOREIGN MINISTER
GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY
July 31, 2006
Federal Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued the following statement on 31 July following the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution on Iran:
"The Security Council has today adopted a resolution that again calls on Iran to suspend its enrichment and enrichment-related activities. The international community has thereby strongly underscored its unity of purpose. It is up to Iran to comply with these now mandatory demands made by the international community and to dispel the lingering doubts about the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.
Iran now has a choice. The door to negotiations is open. The comprehensive package of incentives drawn up by Germany, France, Britain, the US, Russia and China is still on the table. Our priority goal remains finding a consensual diplomatic solution. I call on the leadership in Tehran to seize this chance and to meet the conditions for a return to the negotiating table."
In the resolution, the United Nations Security Council called on Iran to immediately suspend all enrichment-related activities, including research and development. The IAEA Director General is to submit a report by 31 August. If Iran has not met the demands of the international community by this date, the Security Council intends to take appropriate measures under Article 41 of the UN Charter. At the same time the resolution endorses the package proposed by Germany, France, Britain, the US, Russia and China as a possible basis for future cooperation with Iran.