On December 23, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1737, calling on Iran to take practical action to comply with a series of resolutions previously adopted by the IAEA and the UN security Council, and to abide by its commitment not to develop nuclear weapons.

At the core of the Iranian nuclear issue is whether or not Iran will engage in nuclear activities unrelated to civilian nuclear energy development. As a sovereign state, Iran has the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. However, as a state party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, Iran also has a responsibility and obligation to cooperate with the IAEA and report on its nuclear activities. The rights of Iran are closely tied to its international responsibilities.

Although Iran claims not to be developing nuclear weapons, the international community continues to speculate as it has not yet shown any desire to fully cooperate. Nuclear power has dual uses: military and civilian. International peace and security is linked to civilian use of nuclear energy in Iran. Before Iran meets the requirements of the international community, the United Nations Security Council believes that it should suspend uranium enrichment activities, so as to prevent Iran developing civilian nuclear energy technology for military purposes. This would not only safeguard the international nuclear nonproliferation mechanism and strengthen the authority and role of the IAEA, but also protect the security interests of the international community as a whole.

Moreover, if Iran continues with uranium enrichment and other sensitive nuclear programs, although purportedly for civilian nuclear power, its uncooperative attitude might lead to more collisions with the United Nations, which is in no nation's interest. The UN Security Council has demanded that Iran halt sensitive nuclear development projects, and given it 60 days to consider the proposal, a fair time period.

UN Security Council Resolution 1737 aims to bring Iran back to the negotiating table. The sanctions are just a means to this end, and are limited and reversible. As long as Iran is prepared to be somewhat flexible �C suspending some nuclear activities and complying with relevant resolutions of the Security Council and requirements of the IAEA �C it can regain the trust of the international community. The Council, in return, would suspend or even repeal sanctions. However, if Iran remains uncooperative, suspicion and distrust will prevail. The international community will not tolerate any breeches of nuclear non-proliferation agreements. Defying the UN is not in Iran's interests or in that of a unified, modern society. Iran needs to behave rationally to resolve the nuclear issue.

By People's Daily Online; The author, Shen Dingli is the executive vice president and a professor of the Institute for International Studies at Fudan University