The United Nations Security Council's unanimous vote on Saturday sent a clear message to Iran.

The country must respect Security Council resolutions and International Atomic Energy Agency rules.

The new resolution, the second in three months, expanded sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment.

The international community has demanded that Iran halt its uranium enrichment program while the country insists its program is for the peaceful purpose of generating nuclear energy.

Sanctions are not an end in themselves. They are the means to bring Iran back to the world's nuclear nonproliferation regime.

The resolution "underlines the willingness of the international community to work positively" for a diplomatic solution.

The door is clearly open for Iran to negotiate with the international community.

Once again, the next move is Iran's. It should not let the opportunity for cooperation slip.

The new resolution is somewhat stronger than the original resolution.

The unanimous December resolution ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to nuclear and missile programs and to freeze assets of 10 key Iranian companies and 12 individuals related to the programs.
 
The new resolution took sanctions against a longer list of companies and individuals, freezing assets of 13 organizations and companies and 15 individuals. Again, the IAEA is designated to verify whether Iran implements the resolution, and the agency's director is required to report to the Security Council in 60 days.

The resolution underlines the essential role the IAEA plays in the world's nuclear nonproliferation.

With this new resolution, the Security Council reaffirmed the clear way out for Iran: Cooperate with the international community.

At the same time, members of the international community should refrain from any unilateral efforts that could worsen the crisis.

The settlement of the Iran nuclear issue will be a major step forward in stabilizing the escalating dangers in the Middle East.

(China Daily March 26, 2007)