UNITED NATIONS — A U.N. sanctions committee expressed “grave concern” Thursday about what it called apparent Iranian violations of a U.N. ban on arms exports, triggering a renewed threat by the U.S. and its European allies to press for broader sanctions against Teh ran if it does not mend its ways.
The Security Council committee, chaired by Japan, cited numerous reports of illegal shipments by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines over the past three months, including two Iranian arms shipments seized by Egypt and Israel. The United States and Israel say the weapons were bound for Syria.
“Iran has now been caught breaking the rules,” said Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. “Such violations are unacceptable.”
Rice added: “The illicit smuggling of weapons from Iran to Syria is not just a sanctions violation. It is also an important factor in the destabilization of an already fragile Middle East.”
The committee’s findings come as a U.S.-backed effort to engage Iran in talks over its nuclear program has stalled. The Security Council’s five permanent members — the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain — plus Germany are preparing to meet, probably Dec. 18, to consider new sanctions.
France’s U.N. ambassador, Gerard Araud, said France will introduce a sanctions resolution if Tehran fails to take up an offer to send its nuclear fuel outside the country for enrichment.
