Update: On June 9, 2010, the U.N. Security Council adopted Resolution 1929, which provided an international basis for strong sanctions on Iran.  More

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New York, NY, March 5, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) called on the United Nations Security Council to support the adoption of meaningful sanctions that are "severe enough" to change the Iranian regime's present course toward developing nuclear weapons.

In a letter to the foreign ministers of the 15 members of the U.N. Security Council, the League said that after Iran's announcement that it has begun to enrich weapons-grade uranium, "political gestures are no longer sufficient," and that sanctions, "must target areas of high value to the Iranian regime" -- including its finance and energy sectors.

"We are urging members of the Security Council to support the adoption of sanctions that are severe enough to change the Iranian regime's calculation of the costs of pursuing its present course toward developing nuclear weapons," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "Should agreement only be possible on weaker sanctions, the U.N. Security Council will be sending the message that it is incapable of taking commensurate measures against perhaps the most serious threat to world security."

Discussions are now underway for a sixth Security Council resolution on Iran's nuclear program.

The League said the next round of sanctions should target Iran's energy and finance sectors.  Similar sanctions played an important role in convincing Libya to extradite the suspects in the Pan Am 103 bombing over Lockerbie, Scotland, it said.

Security Council Resolution 883, approved in 1993, prohibited the supply of oil equipment to Libya, embargoed Libyan airlines, and froze Libyan funds held overseas.