Reuters: The United Nations Security Council could decide to impose sanctions on Iran next month over its nuclear plans, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said in a newspaper interview on Wednesday. PARIS (Reuters) – The United Nations Security Council could decide to impose sanctions on Iran next month over its nuclear plans, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said in a newspaper interview on Wednesday.
“In March, the Security Council will be able to act, if necessary. The complete range of sanctions is conceivable,” Douste-Blazy told French daily Le Parisien.
“Iran poses a challenge to the international community, to international security and to the stability of the Middle East. We must respond with firmness, effectiveness and unity.”
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday angrily rejected international pressure on his country over its nuclear ambitions and insisted Tehran would not give up the right to develop a peaceful atomic programme.
Iran insists its nuclear plants will only be used for electricity generation. But international suspicions it harbours secret plans to develop atomic arms prompted the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council to say on Tuesday they favoured sending its case to the council.
A decision on whether to report Iran to the council will be taken by a meeting of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency on Thursday in Vienna.
