The Foreign Service Journal, December 2010

D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 / F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L 19 actually change behavior — for if we want a lasting peace, then the words of the international community must mean something. Those regimes that break the rules must be held accountable. Sanctions must exact a real price. In- transigence must be met with increased pressure — and such pressure exists only when the world stands together as one.” The U.S. mission in Vienna played a key role in rallying the world to stand together to face the challenge posed by Iran’s nuclear noncompliance. In late 2009 the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution expressing ongoing, serious concern that Iran continued to defy IAEA and U.N. Security Council resolutions. This was the first such reso- lution in four years and was prompted, in particular, by the revelation that Iran was constructing yet another unde- clared nuclear facility, an enrichment plant near Qom. The resolution underscored the unity of purpose among IAEA member-states and the E3+3, which took the lead in put- ting the resolution together. An intensive American diplomatic effort went into gath- ering support for the resolution, including active engage- ment by the president and Secretary of State Hillary Rod- ham Clinton. At UNVIE our officers rallied support among member-states. As a result, only three countries on the 35-nation board voted against the resolution: Cuba, Venezuela and Malaysia. The stage was set for the Iran sanctions debate in the United Nations Security Council, and eventual passage of UNSCR 1929. A Case Study in Engaging Iran: The Tehran Research Reactor As exhilarating as our involvement in efforts to hold Iran to account was, mission officers also played a central role in a high-profile effort at positive engagement with Iran. Last October, the United States supported a pro- posal by the IAEA to provide fuel for the continued oper- ation of the Tehran Research Reactor, a facility used, among other things, for the production of medical iso- topes. In June 2009, with the reactor fuel forecast to run out F O C U S