If the Security Council can't deal with something like the Iranian nuclear weapons program, then it's hard to imagine what circumstances the (UN) Charter contemplated the Council would be involved in. |
In our view, qualified nations should meet criteria in the following areas: size of economy and population; military capacity; contributions to peacekeeping operations, commitment to democracy and human rights; financial contributions to the United Nations; nonproliferation and counterterrorism records, and equitable geographic balance, |
In the absence of serious Syrian cooperation on substantive matters, the mission can't get to the ultimate truth. That is what is seems to me the focus the U.N. Security Council should be. |
In the bubble on First Avenue, Volcker is just ignored. I talk about it, but it's a solitary conversation. |
In the first instance I suspect that if it comes to the Security Council in a few weeks we would look for a statement that essentially calls on Iran to comply with the existing IAEA resolutions. I think that would be a gut check for the Iranians, and if they don't heed that warning we would have to consider what to do next. |
In the interest of obtaining consensus, I said we would put off a decision until Friday, where we will either achieve consensus on having the briefing, in which case it will go ahead, or I will call for a vote. |
internationally agreed development goals. |
Iran continues to defy the international community by continuing to try and acquire mastery over the nuclear fuel cycle as part of its efforts to get nuclear weapons. |
Iran must be made aware that if it continues down the path of international isolation, there will be tangible and painful consequences. |
Iraq, despite UN sanctions, maintains an aggressive program to rebuild the infrastructure for its nuclear, chemical, biological, and missile programs. In each instance, Iraq's procurement agents are actively working to obtain both weapons-specific and dual-use materials and technologies critical to their rebuilding and expansion efforts, using front companies and whatever illicit means are at hand. |
It is a very hard-hitting report, |
It is something we have pushed hard for, and we're going to continue to push hard, even though tomorrow is March 1, because this is something that we feel very strongly about. |
It is why we repeatedly caution that no option is off the table. |
It was only ever going to be the first step, |
it will be necessary to deal with threats from Syria, Iran, and North Korea afterward. |