APN Welcomes UN Sanctions on Iran, Calls for Parallel Diplomatic Engagement

APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented: "Today's Security Council passage of a new round of sanctions against Iran sends a strong signal of international determination..., but what happens next is more important."

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 9, 2010
CONTACT: Ori Nir(202) 408-9898; onir@peacenow.org

Washington, DC - Americans for Peace Now today welcomed the UN Security Council's passage of a new round of sanctions on Iran.

APN President and CEO Debra DeLee commented: "Today's Security Council passage of a new round of sanctions against Iran sends a strong signal of international determination to deal with the very real challenges and threats posed by Iran's nuclear program. This is good news, but what happens next is more important. The Obama Administration and the international community must accompany this move with renewed diplomatic outreach to Iran, recognizing that sanctions alone will not suffice to address the security and political challenges posed by Iran and its nuclear program.

"With the passage of these new sanctions, the UN Security Council has done what APN has called for all along - it has targeted Iran's leaders and its nuclear program, rather than the Iranian people. This is the right approach. We urge the US Congress to give this approach a chance and suspend efforts to pass legislation that would force President Obama to impose sanctions targeting the Iranian people.

"Clearly, some view these new sanctions as little more than a necessary step on the way to even more sanctions and eventual, inevitable military action. Others, like us, view military action as neither desirable nor inevitable. Sanctions, combined with robust diplomatic engagement, are the only realistic way forward.

"Finally, we note with regret that Turkey and Brazil both voted 'no' on the new Iran sanctions. 'Yes' votes from Turkey and Brazil would have sent a resounding message to Iran - from two emerging international powers - that it is on a path to real isolation. Unfortunately, given recent events, including the cold shoulder with which the US greeted the Brazil-Turkey-Iran fuel swap initiative, and developments on the Israeli-Palestinian front, these 'no' votes should surprise no one. These votes are tangible reminders that efforts to deal with Iran do not exist in a vacuum: there are very real costs to allowing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to continue to hemorrhage, just as there are very real costs to spurning serious diplomatic efforts by other players."

Americans for Peace Now is the nation's leading Jewish organization advocating for peace for Israel.