Under the nomenclature of "nonproliferation," the UN Security
Council has adopted three binding resolutions with respect to Iran
since July 31 of last year: 1696, 1737, and, just yesterday, 1747.
Each of these resolutions is like the others in making demands of
Iran that clearly violate Iran's "inalienable right" under the Treaty on the Nonproliferation of Nuclear Weapons to "develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination" — the Treaty which the Security Council pretends to be defending. Particularly when the Council uses phrases such as "Iran shall suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development…."
What is more, the Security Council on each of these three occasions has claimed to be acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations — meaning, of course, that the Council has pronounced Iran a threat to international peace and security.
So three times in the past eight months, the Security Council has demanded that Iran join the American-led bloc in abrogating Iran's rights under the NPT to engage in uranium enrichment within its national territory.
And each time that the Council has made this demand, it has also pretended to act under Chapter VII, and everything this entails — including an American-led war to enforce these demands against Iran, the stench of which hangs in the Council's chamber just like it did with respect to Iraq, ca. 2002. Even if the Council never approves this ultimate measure.
Worse, Resolution 1747, adopted by unanimous vote on March 24, calls upon all states to (Par. 6):
exercise vigilance and restraint in the supply, sale or transfer directly or indirectly from their territories or by their nationals or using their flag vessels or aircraft of any battle tanks, armoured combat vehicles, large calibre artillery systems, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships, missiles or missile systems as defined for the purpose of the United Nations Register on Conventional Arms to Iran, and in the provision to Iran of any technical assistance or training, financial assistance, investment, brokering or other services, and the transfer of financial resources or services, related to the supply, sale, transfer, manufacture or use of such items in order to prevent a destabilising accumulation of arms….
In plainer English: Not only is Iran threatened with attack by the world's preeminent military power. But 1747 strongly discourages other states from transferring arms to Iran — even arms that Iran might use in defending itself against future attack.
Surely we can't sit idly by and watch this American-led exploitation, first of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and now more decisively the Security Council as well, to overthrow the international order (beginning with Iran's NPT rights) in the name of which the Council pretends to be acting.
But — what might we do about it?
Suggestions are welcomed.
Thanks.
Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolution 1737 (2006) in the Islamic Republic of Iran (GOV/2007/8), Mohamed ElBaradei, February 22, 2007
Statement by the President of the Security Council (S/PRST/2006/15), UNSC, March 29, 2006
"Nonproliferation — Iran" (S/RES/1696), UNSC, July 31, 2006
Verbatim Meeting Record (S/PV.5500), UNSC, July 31, 2006
"Security Council demands Iran suspend uranium enrichment by 31 August" (SC/8792), Press Release, UNSC, July 31, 2006"Nonproliferation — Iran" (S/RES/1737), December 23, 2006
Verbatim Meeting Record (S/PV.5612), UNSC, December 23, 2006
"Security Council imposes sanctions on Iran for failure to halt uranium enrichment" (SC/8928), Press Release, UNSC, December 23, 2006"Nonproliferation — Iran" (S/RES/1747), March 24, 2007
Verbatim Meeting Record (S/PV.5647), UNSC, March 24, 2007
"Security Council toughens sanctions against Iran, adds arms embargo" (SC/8980), Press Release, UNSC, March 24, 2007"Security Council tightens sanctions against Iran over uranium enrichment," UN News Center, March 24, 2007
"The Fourth 'Supreme International Crime' in Seven Years is Already Underway," Edward S. Herman and David Peterson, ElectricPolitics.com, May 16, 2006
"Hegemony and Appeasement: Setting Up the Next Target for the 'Supreme International Crime'," Edward S. Herman and David Peterson, ElectricPolitics.com, January 29, 2007
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