The Nobel Women’s Initiative is very concerned over the Bush administration’s announcement that it will increase sanctions against Iranian banks and designate Iranian groups proliferators of weapons of mass destruction and supporters of terrorism.

Read more about the new measures here.

According to Iranian Laureate Shirin Ebadi, the ratcheting up of US unilateral punitive measures against Iran will only make the situation for political reformists more difficult .The designations could bring a backlash against citizens working for human rights, undermining our efforts for democracy and reform in our country.

Statement from the Nobel Women’s Initiative on increased sanctions against Iran

The Nobel Women’s Initiative is concerned over the Bush administration’s announcement that it will increase sanctions against Iranian banks, designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps a proliferator of weapons of mass destruction under Executive Order 13382 and designate the Quds force a supporter of terrorism under Executive Order 13224. These moves will only undermine efforts to resolve tensions between the US and Iran through nonviolent solutions.

Even as she struggles against repression and human rights violations by the Iranian government, 2003 Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi underscores the dangers of increased sanctions on Iran.

According to Dr. Ebadi, The ratcheting up of US unilateral punitive measures against Iran will only make the situation for political reformists and human rights advocates in Iran a lot more difficult. The designations could also bring a backlash against Iranian citizens working for human rights, undermining our efforts for democracy and reform in our country. The Iranian government must respect international law, UN resolutions and human rights, but US policies that encourage isolation will only play directly into the hands of those who want isolation in Iran. The improvement of the situation of democracy and human rights in Iran can only take place when there is peace.”

Laureate Mairead Maguire stated, “This is dangerous rhetoric and action coming from the US administration, and it serves no good purpose other that to inflame the fear and isolation of Iran, when the obvious and only real road is dialogue and negotiations.  We witnessed similar rhetoric and actions by USA administration  before its illegal occupation and invasion of Iraq.  This time, the international community must stand united against such negative politics of enmity and war.”

What we are calling for is quite simple: a nonviolent resolution of the standoff between the U.S. and Iran, says 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams.

These new measures by the Bush administration could lead to a tit-for-tat escalation resulting in military confrontation.We do not want to see another Iraq and more disruption in the volatile and fragile Middle East. We do not want to see more suffering among women and children in another Middle Eastern country. We demand the Bush administration engage in a serious and sustained diplomatic initiative with Iran without preconditions. The US has engaged in successful dialogue with North Korea, another of the “axis of evil,” over its nuclear weapons.  There is no reason that it cannot do the same with Iran over its nuclear program.

(Iranian Laureate Shirin Ebadi and US Laureate Jody Williams speak out for a non-violent resolution to the US-Iran conflict January 2007 – Above)

LEARN MORE

Unprecedented Punitive Measures Against Iran will Bring Backlash, The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation, 25 October 2007.

U.S. to Impose New Sanctions Targeting Iran’s Military, The Washington Post, 25 October 2007.