UN slaps new set of anti-nuke sanctions on Iran
World powers on Wednesday slapped new military and financial sanctions on Iran aiming to rein in its suspect nuclear program, but stressed the door remains open for talks.
A U.S.-drafted resolution was adopted by 12 votes in favour in the 15-member Security Council, with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey voting against. Though swiftly hailed by the U.S., Britain and France, who co-sponsored the resolution, the move drew an immediate, scornful reaction from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
"These resolutions are not worth a dime for the Iranian nation," said Ahmadinejad, who earlier threatened to suspend negotiations with six major powers if they were imposed.
Despite the backing of Russia and China, it was one of the least supported of the four Iran sanctions resolutions adopted at the UN. It expands an arms embargo and bars the country from sensitive activities like uranium mining. It authorizes states to conduct high-sea inspections of vessels believed to be ferrying banned items for Iran and adds 40 entities to a list of groups subject to travel restrictions and financial sanctions.
Tehran maintains its uranium-enrichment program is for peaceful civilian purposes, while the Western nations charge Iran is covertly seeking to develop nuclear weapons.