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Sanctions for Iran

UN Agrees on Tough Measures for Tehran

The UN Security Council has reached agreement on a new round of sanctions to be imposed on Iran if it continues to enrich uranium. Tehran, though, remains defiant.

Diplomats at the United Nations have reached broad agreement on a package of new measures against Iran, following its continued refusal to stop enriching uranium. The draft text, which may be adopted as early as next week, is believed to include a ban on the export of arms from Iran and a freeze on the assets of key Iranian officials.

Envoys from the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France -- the five permanent members of the Security Council -- who negotiated the text along with Germany, said a draft resolution has now been sent to their respective capitals for approval. After that the 10 non-permanent council members must deliberate before any vote can be taken.

The text of the draft document also calls on all nations and international financial institutions not to enter into new commitments for grants, financial assistance and loans except "for humanitarian and developmental purposes".

It does not impose a mandatory travel embargo on Iranian officials engaged in sensitive nuclear activities. It does, though, require nations to notify a Security Council sanctions committee if such officials pass through their territory.

The new draft resolution would give Iran another 60 days to comply with the UN demand that it cease uranium enrichment or face the threat of further sanctions. But all measures would be suspended if Tehran halts enrichment activities and returns to the negotiating table.

But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this week warned the West that it would deepen the rift with his country by imposing more UN sanctions.

"You are wrong if you think you can sit and draft ... something in order to isolate the Iranian nation," he said. "Not only are you unable to hurt Iran, but you would further isolate yourselves and make yourselves more hated."

Responding to the latest threat of sanctions Ahmadinejad said: "What is the aim of issuing such resolutions? Today we are mastering the nuclear fuel cycle completely. If all of you (Westerners) get together, and call your ancestors from hell as well, you will not be able to stop the Iranian nation. You sanctioned us in the past but we obtained the nuclear technology. Impose economic sanctions on us today and see what would be our next step."

In December, the UN Security Council voted unanimously to impose limited sanctions against Iran for its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment. It ordered all countries to stop supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs and to freeze the assets of 10 key Iranian companies and 12 individuals related to those programs. The Security Council said it would consider further non-military sanctions if Iran refused to suspend enrichment.

Iran's response was to accelerate its enrichment program which it insists is peaceful and aimed solely at producing nuclear energy, but the US, Europe and the UN nuclear watchdog are concerned that Iran's goal is to produce nuclear weapons.

It is understood that the US and the Europeans would favor tougher sanctions but have had to settle for less to ensure that Russia and China, which have close commercial ties with Iran, do not use their veto power to block a resolution.

"It is our hope that the appeal of the Security Council will be constructively responded to by the Iranian side," said Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. "Of course, I hope I'm not daydreaming, but there is still time for Tehran to give a positive response and in that case a vote on this draft resolution would not be necessary."

Israel's Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni has urged the Security Council to strengthen its sanctions on Iran. She said Iran's government, which has spoken publicly of wanting Israel "wiped off the map" and denies the Holocaust, is a threat not only by Israel but to Iran's Arab Muslim neighbors.

"Their goal is to pursue a nuclear weapon," she said. "Time is of the essence because while we are talking, they are working ... to master the technology and to achieve this goal so we have to stop it."

lat/reuters/ap