BICOM

International sanctions have succeeded in slowing down Iran’s nuclear programme, though Tehran repeatedly seeks ways to breach the embargo, according to a new UN report. A panel of experts which monitors the sanctions said the sanctions are “slowing Iran’s nuclear programme but are not yet having an impact on the decision calculus of its leadership with respect to halting uranium enrichment and heavy water-related activities.” Iran is believed “to be coming close to exhausting its supply of uranium” and may therefore be seeking new sources of uranium to expand its enrichment. The international embargoes, assets freezes and travel bans have “clearly forced changes in the way in which Iran procures items,” said the report.

The report stresses that Iran continues to seek ways to bypass the sanctions “across all areas, in particular front companies, concealment methods in shipping, financial transactions, and the transfer of conventional arms and related materiel.” The report noted in particular that Syria plays a central role in helping Iran smuggle weapons. Six of the nine violations of a UN ban on conventional arms shipments by Iran involve Syria, said the report. “In all such incidents inspected by the panel, prohibited material was carefully concealed to avoid routine inspection and hide the identity of end-users.” The experts said it was likely that other undetected arms shipments had been made and that “other illicit shipments were identified but not reported” to the UN sanctions committee.