Despite four rounds of UN sanctions Iran has sustained its nuclear activities using a network of foreign suppliers and front companies to obtain material. The sanctions are "not yet having an impact on the decision calculus of its leadership with respect to halting uranium enrichment," the UN's expert panel on the country concluded."Iran's circumvention of sanctions across all areas is willful and continuing."
Tehran is banned under the UN sanctions from trading in items that could contribute to its enrichment of uranium, and from carrying out conventional arms sales.
| Wanna bet that the Iranians and the Norks are sharing notes and collaborating? |
Officials are acquiring materials and technology for nuclear and conventional missiles programmes, smuggling weapons, and establishing front companies to evade sanctions on banned firms.
Rolls of phosphor bronze mesh wire, seized in South Korea in February, could have been used in Iran's burgeoning heavy water reactor, the panel said. It also said 302 barrels of aluminum powder from China, which were intercepted in Singapore in January, could have been used to produce 100 tons of rocket propellant.
Several banned arms sales were also intercepted, the panel said, with several destined for Syria, where authorities are currently engaged in a brutal crackdown on pro-democracy protesters.
The panel said the UN Security Council should impose travel bans and asset freezes on two Iranian men and Behineh Trading Company, an alleged front company, for their alleged links to the shipment.
While trade embargoes have succeeded in slowing down Tehran's ability to develop nuclear and conventional missiles, it continues to import and export banned items, it found.
Leaked correspondence yesterday showed that Iran wants to use the next round of talks with the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany to discuss matters other than its nuclear programme. The attempt to discuss topics including piracy and Iran's rights as a nation fuelled concerns that it is seeking to draw out the talks, to delay further barriers to its development of nuclear weapons.