J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami released the following statement following the P5+1 nations’ announcement that they have agreed on a draft Iran sanctions resolution:
J Street welcomes this week’s announcement that the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany have agreed on a working text on enhanced multilateral sanctions against Iran.
We have consistently believed that the most effective signal to Iran of the need to change course on its nuclear program is for the international community – through the United Nations Security Council – to approve and enforce tougher multilateral sanctions against Iran, combined with a willingness to engage in meaningful diplomacy.
We view this week’s announcement as validation of the Obama Administration’s tireless diplomacy over the past seventeen months aimed both at offering Iran an opportunity to address international concerns and at building a strong international consensus around the need for further action. This effort has borne, and will continue to bear, fruit for American interests, Israel’s security, and regional peace efforts.
We view Monday’s announcement of a Turkish-Brazilian initiative on enrichment of Iranian nuclear material as a starting point for further diplomatic efforts but not as a substitute at this stage for further U.N. sanctions. A dual-track approach – pairing sanctions and engagement – in our view is the best way to convince Iran’s leadership to make clear it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, to submit to international inspections, and to end its support for groups that use violence and terror against Israel as well as its Holocaust denial. This is also the best route to pave the way for Iran to reintegrate fully into the international community.