U.N. states lag on Iran sanction reports

AP: Less than 40 percent of U.N. member states have filed required reports on how they are complying with sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, the chairman of a monitoring committee said Thursday. Associated Press

By EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Less than 40 percent of U.N. member states have filed required reports on how they are complying with sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, the chairman of a monitoring committee said Thursday.

Belgian Ambassador Johan Verbeke said the committee has written to countries that haven’t reported reminding them of their obligation to implement the two sanctions resolutions adopted by the U.N. Security Council since December.

“It is an obligation for all the members of the United Nations to report on the implementation of their obligations pursuant to both these resolutions,” he told reporters after briefing the Security Council.

On Dec. 23, the Security Council ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs. It also ordered a freeze on assets of 10 key Iranian companies and 12 individuals related to those programs.

Iran responded by expanding enrichment.

On March 24, the council imposed further sanctions that include banning Iranian arms exports and freezing the assets of 28 people and organizations involved in Iran’s nuclear and missile programs.

Iran again responded by expanding enrichment.

Verbeke said the March 24 resolution required all 192 U.N. members to report within 60 days on steps taken to implement the measures. As of Thursday, the committee had received reports from 50 nations and the European Union – only 15 of them by the May 23 deadline, he said.

Of the 50 responses, he said, 38 countries reported they had legislation in place to implement the sanctions and 12 states reported on steps they had taken or would be taking.

Seven countries submitted combined reports covering both resolutions, bringing the total number of reports received on implementation of the Dec. 23 resolution to 73, Verbeke said.

Deputy U.S. Ambassador Jackie Sanders called on Iran to change its “confrontational course, suspend its proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities, and engage in constructive negotiations on the future of its nuclear program.”

Iran insists it has the right to develop uranium enrichment to produce fuel for nuclear reactors that would generate electricity, while the Security Council demands enrichment halt until Tehran allays fears it is trying to develop atomic weapons. Iran denies it is working on nuclear arms.