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Sunday, 24 December 2006, 00:31 GMT

In quotes: Reaction to Iran sanctions

World figures have been giving their reaction to the UN Security Council's unanimous decision to impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.

Iran insists its nuclear activities are both legal in scope and peaceful in purpose and has said they will continue.

BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, EMYR JONES-PARRY

Iran has simply thumbed its nose at the council and defied international law.

Iran... faces a choice - the vote today illustrates the gravity of that choice and the seriousness with which we as a council view Iran's behaviour.

We hope Iran will heed the decision of the council and return to negotiation to resolve the nuclear dossier.

IRANIAN AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, JAVAD ZARIF

Today is a sad day for the non-proliferation regime.

The same governments which have pushed this council to take groundless punitive measures against Iran's peaceful nuclear programme have systematically prevented it from taking any action to nudge the Israeli regime towards submitting itself to the rules governing the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

US UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS, NICHOLAS BURNS

We don't think this resolution is enough in itself.

We want the international community to take further action... We would like to see countries to stop doing business as usual with Iran.

FRENCH FOREIGN MINISTER PHILIPPE DOUSTE-BLAZY

Today, more than ever, our objective remains convincing Iran to conform with its international commitments.

JAPANESE AMBASSADOR TO THE UN, KENZO OSHIMA

In adopting this resolution we earnestly hope and make an appeal to Iran that the country will seek to resolve this issue at the earliest possible time through diplomatic negotiations in full respect of the international obligations.

This ought not to be impossible. To that end Japan will continue to contribute to the effort to resolve the issue through bilateral negotiations with Iran, and other diplomatic channels.

ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN MARK REGEV

[The resolution sends] a clear message to the Iranian leadership that Iran's nuclear program is total unacceptable and the community of nations will act to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining nuclear weapons.




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RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Iranian foreign ministry
UN Security Council
IAEA
Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
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