BOISE – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement after the United Kingdom, France, and Germany initiated the snapback of UN sanctions on Iran at the Security Council today.
“After years of Iranian nuclear extortion and terrorism, I am pleased our European allies have finally triggered the snapback provision of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2231. The Security Council must reject the Islamic Republic of Iran’s continued threats and deceptions and ensure the full restoration of all UN sanctions on Iran. The Security Council has an opportunity in earnest to reclaim some of its legitimacy and enforcing this snapback mechanism is a respectable way to do so.
“Should our allies remain committed to this task, all previous UN sanctions on Iran – including the conventional arms embargo, nuclear weapons’ delivery system embargo, asset freezes, and travel bans on the regime’s top terrorists and nuclear scientists – will return in effect 30 days from now. It was incredibly misguided to lift these sanctions as part of the flawed 2015 Iran deal. The past decade of Iranian aggression has demonstrated the foolishness of that poorly negotiated and failed agreement.
“While this is a good step, now the hard work begins. I look forward to working closely with the Trump Administration to ensure all UN member states fulfill their obligations under the restored UN sanctions and to hold all nations and actors who help the Islamic Republic flout international law accountable."
Background:
The initiation of the snapback process starts a 30-day clock at the UN Security Council. If a resolution is not passed to maintain sanctions relief by that time, the provisions of UNSCR 2231 will terminate and the previous UN Security Council Resolutions (1696,1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, and 1929) will return into effect.
Successful completion of the UN snapback will reinstate permanent international legal prohibitions on Iran, including against: (1) all Iranian nuclear enrichment and reprocessing or heavy water-related activities, including research and development – as well as related transfers of items, materials, equipment, goods, and technology; (2) All transfers to or from Iran of items and technology that could contribute to the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems, such as ballistic missiles and long-range drones; and (3) all transfers to or from Iran of conventional and advanced weapons.
Additionally, restoration of the previous resolutions will legally obligate the international community to enforce these sanctions, including by directing all UN member states to: prevent Iran from conducting or advancing nuclear enrichment activities on their soil or by using their vessels and airplanes; prevent Iran from violating the conventional & advanced weapons embargo on their soil or by using their vessels and airplanes; to encourage the prohibition of activities of Iranian banks and financial institutions that support Iran’s nuclear activities or development of nuclear-delivery systems; to enforce the UN travel ban and asset freeze against dozens of Iran’s most notorious terror operations and nuclear officials.
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