A UN resolution is a formal expression of the will of the Security Council and is backed by the power of international law. It requires that all parties comply with its provisions. Resolutions are usually passed by a majority of the Council’s 15 members, although permanent member France and Indonesia abstained in this case.
In this resolution, the Council reaffirms its demand that Iran “cease all activity related to the development of nuclear weapons.” It also urges Iran to cooperate with the IAEA and calls for sanctions against Iran for failure to comply with previous resolutions. It also extends existing sanctions by requiring states to report to the 1737 Committee within 60 days of the resolution’s adoption on the steps they have taken to implement it and expanding the list of persons for whom funds, financial assets and economic resources are frozen.
The United States strongly opposed the passage of this resolution as it “absolves Hamas of its responsibility to cease its attacks and halt its heinous crimes against Israeli civilians.” It echoes the position of other permanent members, including France and Germany.
A small number of resolutions are binding, meaning that they require that specific actions be taken by the Council and its members. These include imposing sanctions on the basis of a vote in the Council, appointing special envoys or establishing missions to implement a Security Council resolution, and taking other enforcement measures such as severing diplomatic ties and blockades.
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