Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade issued the following statement concerning the draft United Nations Security Council resolution.

“Achieving consensus on a new round of United Nations sanctions among the permanent five members of the Security Council is a positive step. There are some good provisions in the resolution, including a partial arms embargo and additional financial sanctions.

“However, many of the provisions are unfortunately not mandatory, and represent steps we should have taken years ago. This resolution, like previous Security Council resolutions, does not in itself have the type of measures that would cause the calculus in Tehran to change.

“It does not contain mandatory measures that would significantly restrain trade or investment in Iran’s energy sector, which needs goods, services and technology from abroad to improve or even maintain current output. It does not prohibit the sale of refined petroleum or refinery equipment. Iran’s Central Bank, which has played a significant role in proliferation, is not targeted through mandatory provisions.

“Nothing about this resolution, or any measures which countries may take under its cover, justify weakening the legislation currently in conference. In fact, we need to ensure we have a tough bill to do what the Security Council is unwilling or unable to do --- impose a crippling sanctions regime that will cause the type of economic dislocation in Iran that can change the calculus regarding the wisdom of the nuclear program.”