Excerpts from previous status reports, by subject
Removed on February 16, 2007
- U.N. Security Council Resolution 1737
- The Iran Freedom Support Act
- The State Department sanctions Iran’s suppliers
U.N. Security Council Resolution
1737
After months of debate over successively watered down draft resolutions, the
U.N. Security Council has at last agreed to a set of sanctions against Iran
on December 23, 2006. Iran’s reaction to the unanimous vote was swift.
Chief nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani announced plans to immediately step-up
the installation of centrifuges at the Natanz enrichment plant. And Iran’s
Foreign Ministry spokesman warned that Iran might not maintain the same level
of cooperation with international nuclear inspectors.
However, the sanctions ultimately endorsed by Security Council Resolution 1737 are weaker than earlier draft resolutions prepared by Britain, France and Germany. It does not contain a mandatory travel ban on individuals involved in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and it exempts from restriction all work related to the Bushehr reactor being built by Russia—including low-enriched uranium fuel for the reactor. In addition, the list of items that countries are barred from selling to Iran has been narrowed, and the resolution contains a broad waiver to allow nuclear and missile-useable transfers, if the Sanctions Committee (established by the resolution) deems that such transfers do not pose a proliferation risk.
The Iran Freedom Support Act
The U.S. Congress has sought to enhance the sanctions options against Iran’s
weapon suppliers. In September 2006 it passed, and the President signed into
law, the Iran Freedom and Support Act (P.L.109-293). The Act requires the President
to impose at least two out of six penalties on entities that contribute to
Iran’s mass destruction weapon programs, including a ban on Export-Import
Bank assistance, the denial of U.S. purchases that require an export license,
a prohibition on loans from U.S. financial institutions, prohibitions on serving
as a dealer or repository of U.S. government debt or funds, a ban on U.S. government
procurement and an import ban. However, the President is granted broad authority
to waive sanctions for “the national interest of the United States.” The
Act also codifies existing economic sanctions against Iran, approves assistance
for human rights and democracy organizations, and alters and renews the Iran-Libya
Sanctions Act.
The State Department sanctions Iran’s
suppliers
On July 28, 2006, the U.S. State Department imposed sanctions on seven foreign
companies under the Iran Nonproliferation Act for having supplied Iran with sensitive
technology. The companies sanctioned include Rosoboronexport, a state-run arms
exporter, and Sukhoi, a manufacturer of fighter jets, both from Russia; Balaji
Amines Ltd. and Prachi Poly Products Ltd., both Indian chemical manufacturers;
the Korean Mining and Industrial Development Corp. and Korea Pugang Trading Corp.,
both from North Korea; and the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology,
a Cuban company. Sanctions against Sukhoi were terminated in November 2006.
And
in May 2003, the United States imposed sanctions on the North China North Industries
Corporation (NORINCO), allegedly for helping Iran’s Shahid
Hemmat Industrial group acquire missiles “capable of delivering weapons
of mass destruction.”