New York, NY, May 21, 2010 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed efforts by the United States to increase pressure on Iran at the United Nations, despite Iran's cynical arrangement with Turkey and Brazil which would only help the regime continue defying the UN Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

We commend the commitment of the Obama Administration to finding a formula for a Security Council resolution that is supported by all permanent members of the Council.  The new draft resolution signals to Iran that sanctions will increase if Iran continues to flout its international obligations on its nuclear program.

The uranium exchange proposal by Turkey and Brazil fell far short of addressing the core issue.  The real deal is 'no weapons program – no sanctions.'  Turkey, Brazil, and the other non-permanent members of the Security Council should support the P-5's agreed draft.

While the draft resolution moves the debate in the right direction, its terms are unlikely to change the behavior of the regime in Tehran.  The adoption of this resolution, however, will enable the U.S. and like-minded countries to put in place strong national sanctions against trading in Iranian oil.  Such sanctions would drastically alter the regime's cost-benefit analysis and offer the best chance of stopping Iran's blatant violations of its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and ending its nuclear weapons program.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.