On Sept. 22, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution ruling out the policy of containing a nuclear-armed Iran. But it stipulates that it shall not be “construed as an authorization for the use of force.” Resolution 41 also urges increased diplomatic pressure and economic sanctions on Iran until it complies with international obligations on its nuclear program. The Senate voted 90 to 1 in favor of the non-binding resolution. The following is an excerpt from the legislation with a link to the full text at the bottom.
SECTION 1. SENSE OF CONGRESS.
That Congress—
(1) reaffirms that the United States Government and the governments of other responsible countries have a vital interest in working together to prevent the Government of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability;
(2) warns that time is limited to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability;
(3) urges continued and increasing economic and diplomatic pressure on the Islamic Republic of Iran until the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran agrees to and implements—
(A) the full and sustained suspension of all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and compliance with United Nations Security Council resolutions;
(B) complete cooperation with the IAEA on all outstanding questions related to the nuclear activities of the Government of the Islamic
Republic of Iran, including the implementation of the additional protocol to Iran’s Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA; and
(C) a permanent agreement that verifiably assures that Iran’s nuclear program is entirely peaceful;
(4) expresses the desire that the P5+1 process successfully and swiftly leads to the objectives identified in paragraph (3), but warns that, as President Obama has said, the window for diplomacy is closing;
(5) expresses support for the universal rights and democratic aspirations of the people of Iran;
(6) strongly supports United States policy to prevent the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapons capability;with
(7) rejects any United States policy that would rely on efforts to contain a nuclear weapons-capable Iran; and
(8) joins the President in ruling out any policy that would rely on containment as an option in response to the Iranian nuclear threat.
SEC. 2. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as an authorization for the use of force or a declaration of war.
Click here for the full text of Senate Resolution 41