AJC Welcomes Clinton Announcement on UN Security Council Iran Resolution

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May 18, 2010, 02:37 ET

NEW YORK, May 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC welcomed Secretary of State Clinton's announcement that key members of the UN Security Council have agreed on the text for a new "strong sanctions resolution" against Iran's nuclear program.

"Secretary Clinton's announcement is very encouraging," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "We hope the UN Security Council will accelerate its deliberations and adopt a new resolution to significantly tighten the sanctions regime to thwart Iran's ambitions to obtain nuclear weapons capability."

Clinton, appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the United States has reached agreement on a text with the other four permanent Security Council members, including Russia and China, plus Germany, and "are proceeding to rally the international community on behalf of a strong sanctions resolution that will, in our view, send an unmistakable message about what is expected from Iran."

The Secretary of State also expressed deep skepticism about the Iran-Brazil-Turkey agreement announced yesterday in Tehran, to export a portion of Iran's low-enriched uranium for storage and eventual further enrichment in another country, likely Turkey. British, French and Russian officials have voiced similar skepticism.

"Iran has a long record of deception and intransigence, and clearly the U.S. and other permanent members of the UN Security Council are losing patience," said Harris. "Iran has repeatedly violated its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty, defied five UN Security Council resolutions regarding its nuclear program, and failed to negotiate in good faith with European states and then with the P5+1. The Iranian regime cannot be trusted."

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SOURCE American Jewish Committee