The Security Council has just adopted UNSCR 1929 by a great majority. This is the fourth sanctions resolution against Iran. As with each of the previous resolutions regarding Tehran, the five permanent members voted in its favour. It includes measures in many areas, including transport, arms, and the banking and financial sectors.
This resolution once again highlights the international community's deep concerns about the Iranian nuclear programme, which were further confirmed by the IAEA's latest report. It showed that Iran is continuing her enrichment activities and her projects linked to heavy water, in breach of resolutions from the Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors, and without any credible civilian aim. The report also stated that Iran's cooperation with the IAEA remains wholly insufficient, especially on issues linked to the military aspect of the Iranian programme.
The Security Council's newly-adopted resolution is also due to Iran's refusal to respond to the numerous offers of dialogue and cooperation from the Six (China, France, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and United States).
This stance left the international community with no option but to strengthen sanctions against Iran. By deciding for the fourth time to adopt sanctions aimed at the Iranian leaders - and not the people - they are sending them a very clear message: Iran can either continue her sensitive activities in breach of international law and therefore face growing isolation, or she can choose to cooperate and finally accept to enter into genuine negotiations with the Six.
The sanctions are not an end in themselves. The resolution, and the statement from the six foreign affairs ministers after the vote, recall that we want to reach a negotiated solution which meets the needs of Iran while reassuring the international community as to the purposes of her nuclear programme.
France expresses her thanks to Brazil and Turkey for their efforts to this effect.
The door to dialogue remains open and we hope that Iran will finally decide to cooperate.