Scores of countries reporting on Iran sanctions, Security Council told

Over 80 countries have reported to the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions imposed against Iran, the chairman of that panel said today.

Since June, the committee has received 19 documents from Member States – 15 reported that they already have legislation in place regarding the sanctions while the remaining four gave details on measures that have been or will be taken to put the necessary legal framework into place, said Belgian Ambassador Johan C. Verbeke, the committee’s chairman.

“This brings the total number of reports under resolution 1737 to 81 and the total number of reports under resolution 1747 to 67,” he told the Council in an open meeting.

Adopted last December, resolution 1737 banned trade with Iran in all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to the country’s enrichment-related, reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, or to the development of nuclear-weapon delivery systems.

Resolution 1747 from this March further tightened the sanctions by imposing a ban on arms sales and expanding the freeze on assets.

Iranian authorities have stated that their nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but other countries contend that it is driven by military ambitions.

Earlier this week, the head of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) noted that Tehran has not suspended enrichment related activities as called for by the Security Council, although it has agreed on a work plan with the Agency for resolving all outstanding verification issues.

“Naturally, Iran’s active cooperation and transparency is the key to full and timely implementation of the work plan,” stressed IAEA Mohamed ElBaradei.