Original Source: http://www.un.int/usa/07_066.htm http://www.un.int/usa/07_066.htm
March 23, 2007

USUN PRESS RELEASE #  066(07)   
March 23, 2007 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
Remarks by Ambassador Alejandro D. Wolff, Acting U.S. Representative to the United Nations on Iran, at the Security Council Stakeout, March 23, 2007 
Ambassador Wolff: Well, as you've seen, we've just had unanimous adoption of Resolution 1747, which again sends a very clear message of the unity of this council, unity of assessment, unity of purpose, unity of goal to have Iran come back into compliance with its obligations, suspend its enrichment activities so we can resume negotiation for a political solution. 
The measures that you read in the resolution are in addition to what exists in 1737. All of those previous measures remain in place. These add to those. They include individuals and institutions who will have their assets frozen; there will be additional individual restricted in their travel; a complete arms embargo on any sale or transfer of arms from Iran; calling upon all nations to restrain their exports of arms to Iran; and financial measures dealing with a number of institutions and organizations in Iran. So it's a good resolution. 
We heard from the foreign minister. We gave him the courtesy of listening to him, a courtesy he did not give the council. And so I hope that he was watching on television or listening on the radio and understood the unanimous view of this council that Iran must comply with its obligations. 

Reporter: What's your reaction to the speech of the Iranian foreign minister, his charge that the United States abuses the council when it serves its interests, referring to the Lebanon case, sir.


Ambassador Wolff: I'm not going to dignify the speech. It was a revisionist speech that misses the point. We're here to deal with the -- Iran's refusal to abide by both international obligations established by the Security Council and the IAEA. We've heard allegations; we've heard -- treated to a version of history that few people share. And I frankly saw it as another exercise in denial. 

Reporter: Do you think there's anything in his speech, anything in his speech that was positive or will it (mean?) more confrontation between the council and Iran as the months go on? 

Ambassador Wolff: Well, we were waiting to hear for one thing and one thing only. We hope that the minister travels all this way to tell the council that they were going to abide by their obligations and meet the council's objective so we can restart negotiations. We didn't hear that. 

Reporter: (Inaudible) -- Iran -- 

Reporter: Ambassador, they accused you of helping Saddam Hussein for (eight?) years and -- (inaudible). Iran resisted that help. What do you respond to that? Did you help Saddam Hussein for (eight?) years or not? 

Ambassador Wolff: As I said, this is totally irrelevant to what we are doing here. We're dealing with a nuclear weapons exercise and that we were trying to deal with this and this resolution. This is another distraction. I urge you not to be distracted. 

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, what's next after this resolution, sir? 

Ambassador Wolff: Well, we wait and see whether Iran will comply, and we'll wait to the IAEA's report in 60 days and see if additional measures need to be imposed. 

Reporter: Mr. Ambassador, you've heard the foreign minister of Iran -- foreign minister talking very clearly. Do you think by (purporting?) or having another resolution you are going to have a positive outcome from this resolution, or you are making it more difficult for Iranian diplomats or Iranian people to really work with the IAEA? And wouldn't it be better let the IAEA basically go through all the process and ask other question they have and answer other question that you note with the report of IAEA they submitted to the Security Council? Maybe that way, they basically can clear all the components of IAEA. And there will be no -- (inaudible) -- from the point of view of the South African also. 

Ambassador Wolff: Well, we're here fundamentally because Iran will not allow the IAEA to do that, or we wouldn't be here. 

Reporter: Ambassador, en espanol? Espanol? 

Ambassador Wolff: Un en espanol? 

Reporter: Si. What happened today? What occurred today? 

Ambassador Wolff: (In Spanish.) 

Reporter: Thank you. 
 
 
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