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Defiant Iran faces new UN sanctions

By Santosh | 09 June 2010

Iran might face strict new sanctions on Wednesday, after the United States and its allies have called for a United Nations vote over its suspect nuclear programme.

In the final version of the UN resolution, sanctions would be tougher than previous penalties but still far short of crippling economic punishments or an oil embargo.

The sanctions would ban Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bar Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining, and prohibit Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles.

Annexes to the resolution, agreed Tuesday, would target 40 new Iranian companies or organisations, including 15 linked to Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard.

The sanctions list also includes 22 companies or organisations involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities and three entities linked to the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday after a private meeting of Security Council members, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, predicted the resolution would be adopted by "a strong majority."

"It is a strong, broad-based resolution that will impose meaningful and significant new sanctions on Iran," she said. "Our aim remains to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear programme and negotiate constructively and in earnest with the international community."

Iran insists its nuclear programme is purely peaceful, aimed at producing nuclear energy and medical isotopes, but the United States and its Western allies believe Tehran's real goal is to build atomic weapons.

The Security Council vote would take place at 10 am (1400 GMT) on Wednesday.

In Washington, US State Department Spokesman PJ Crowley said he expected "a successful vote that makes clear there are consequences to Iran for its failures to meet its international obligations."

Crowley also said Turkey had "a role to play" in its mediation efforts between Iran and the US and its European allies.

"Turkey as a direct neighbour of Iran will be among the first countries to feel whatever the effects of international action are. Turkey itself has been very clear; it does not desire to have an nuclear Iran right next door, we are all committed to diplomacy," Crowley told reporters.

Turkey, along with Brazil, has called for an open "political debate" on the broader Iranian nuclear issue first, and has opposed sanctions.

Neither Brazil nor Turkey is one of the five veto-holding permanent members of the council, although both are currently non-permanent members of the 15-member body.

They recently announced a fuel-swap agreement with Iran aimed at addressing concerns that it may be enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.

After weeks of closed-door negotiations, the US, Britain and France won crucial support from Russia and China for new sanctions, but they have faced a tough campaign to win support from the rest of the Security Council.

When the original draft resolution was circulated on October 18, shortly after the Turkey-Brazil-Iran deal was announced, diplomats said Brazil refused to negotiate, and it has expressed opposition to new sanctions along with Turkey and Lebanon.

The latest draft, circulated "in blue" text signalling it is in final form, adds language noting Turkey and Brazil's efforts "that could serve as a confidence building measure."

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called the proposed sanctions the toughest ever, while US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the measure would pass and pave the way for tougher additional measures by the US and its allies.

The resolution, if adopted, would impose the fourth round of sanctions against Iran.

The final draft also calls on all countries to cooperate in cargo inspections, which must receive the consent of the ship's flag state, if there are "reasonable grounds" to believe the cargo could contribute to Iranian nuclear programme.

On the financial side, the draft calls on, but does not require, countries to block financial transactions, including insurance and reinsurance, and ban the licensing of Iranian banks if they have information that provides "reasonable grounds" to believe these activities could contribute to Iranian nuclear activities.