Reactions to UN decision to impose sanctions on Iran – France

Iran Focus: London, Dec. 23 – The following is the text of a statement by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy issued following a unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council to impose trade sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to stop its sensitive nuclear activities. Iran Focus

London, Dec. 23 – The following is the text of a statement by French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy issued following a unanimous vote by the United Nations Security Council to impose trade sanctions against Iran because of its refusal to stop its sensitive nuclear activities:

Adoption of sanctions on Iran by the Security Council (December 23, 2006)

Statement by the minister of foreign Affairs, Mr. Philippe Douste-Blazy (Décember 23, 2006)

“I welcome this evening’s unanimous adoption of Resolution 1737 by the Security Council in New York.

In accordance with its previous commitments, the Security Council is imposing sanctions on Iran following Teheran’s refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear activities in the areas of enrichment and reprocessing.

The measures decided on this evening by the Security Council aim to prevent any further foreign contribution, in any form whatsoever, to sensitive nuclear and ballistic activities by Iran. The resolution also imposes financial sanctions on the bodies and individuals responsible for these activities. Finally, the resolution strengthens the IAEA’s powers in its verification efforts.

Today our objective remains, more than ever, to convince Iran to comply with its international commitments. With this resolution, the Security Council offers Iran a clear choice: to cooperate with the international community or to pursue its enrichment and reprocessing activities at the risk of increased isolation.

I invite the Iranian authorities to choose dialogue and to return to the negotiating table. For its part, France will spare no effort to allow the path of dialogue to prevail. “