Nuclear Reset - Program on Strategic Stability Evaluation (POSSE)

Chapter 4. The Iranian Problem95adopted a series of successive “sanctions resolutions,” each of whichnoted a lack of progress in Iran’s compliance with the precedingresolution.UN Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006) 33 prohibited shipmentof any equipment or technology to Iran that could be used eitherfor uranium enrichment or for reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel.It also froze the bank accounts of Iranian companies implicated in illegallyacquiring nuclear technology abroad. The Resolution furtherobliged the UN member states to inform the UN Security Council’sSpecial Committee if any Iranian individuals associated with nuclearactivities crossed their borders. 34 Resolution 1747 (2007) 35 expandedthe list of sanctions that had initially been introduced in December2006 in Resolution 1737; in particular, the new resolution prohibitedIran from exporting weapons.UN Security Council Resolution 1803 (2008) 36 reaffirmed the provisionsof the preceding resolutions and appealed to all nations(in accordance with their national regulations and laws and withinternational law) to carry out inspections of cargo arriving at theirairports and seaports belonging to certain Iranian companies suspectedof transporting equipment and materials used for undeclarednuclear activities. Resolution 1835 (2008) 37 reaffirmed the resolveheld by the UN Security Council member states to compel Iranto comply with the previous Resolutions.Iran has not recognized the legitimacy of the sanctions adopted bythe UN Security Council and continues to ignore their provisionson uranium enrichment almost five years after the first resolutionwas adopted. According to former Iranian Foreign Affairs MinisterMottaki, the sanctions were “illegal, useless, and unjustified,” andIran’s nuclear program is “entirely peaceful.” 38 Against this backdrop,Iran has also called for reform of the current format of the UNSecurity Council, arguing that it does not reflect the present situationin the world. 39The Obama Administration and Iran’s<strong>Nuclear</strong> <strong>Program</strong>The transition of power at the White House and beginningof the Obama administration led to an adjustment of U.S. foreignpolicy. Washington began to assign greater priority to diplomacy and