Urgent: UN Security Council imposes new sanctions on Iran

Iran Focus: London, Mar. 03 – The United Nations Security Council voted on Monday to impose a third set of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt its suspected nuclear weapons activity. Iran Focus

London, Mar. 03 – The United Nations Security Council voted on Monday to impose a third set of sanctions on Iran over its refusal to halt its suspected nuclear weapons activity.

A European-sponsored resolution was adopted at the 15-member Council by 14 votes in favour, none opposed, and one abstention from Indonesia.

Resolution 1803 increases the current mild trade ban on Iran to include certain goods with both civilian and military uses.

Under the new sanctions, certain Iranian companies and banks will have their accounts frozen, and goods entering and leaving Iran will be subjected to inspections. Travel bans will also be imposed on five Iranian officials involved in the Islamic Republic’s nuclear projects.

The Security Council previously imposed two sets of milder sanctions on Tehran in December 2006 and March 2007 over its refusal to halt its uranium enrichment activities which the West suspects is part of a nuclear weapons program.

The latest sanctions resolution was initially agreed on 22 January by the P5+1 states – Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia, and China – and then slightly adjusted to suit the other 10 non-Permanent Members of the Security Council. Resolution 1803 builds on resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747. Resolutions 1737 and 1747 imposed sanctions on Tehran.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki in a letter to the Security Council members last Thursday vowed that the Islamic Republic would not desist from its nuclear ambitions.