U.S. and its allies urge U.N. ban on Iran
By Sam Malcom,WNS Iran Correspondent
TEHRAN - The U.S. and its allies want the U.N. Security Council to ban the sale of missile and atomic technology to Iran and end most U.N. help for its nuclear programs - moves diplomats said are narrowly focused in hopes of winning Russian and Chinese backing for sanctions.The diplomats, who spoke with The Associated Press Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the draft resolution was not yet public, said the proposal also would commit U.N. member nations to denying entry to Iranian officials involved in developing missiles or nuclear systems. A Security Council resolution passed last week imposed similar sanctions on the sale or transfer of technology that could contribute to North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs after that nation's test explosion of a nuclear bomb.
One of the diplomats described all three measures aimed at Iran as moderate in impact, saying that was an attempt to win Russian and Chinese support. Moscow and Beijing could be formally presented with the draft later this week, the diplomat said. Both Russia and China have agreed in principle to imposing sanctions over Iran's defiance of a council ultimatum to freeze uranium enrichment and sharply improve cooperation with the U.N. probe of suspect Iranian atomic activities. But both continue to publicly push for dialogue instead of U.N. punishment, despite the collapse last month of a European Union attempt to entice Iran into talks. The EU proposed Iran at least temporarily freeze enrichment as a condition for multilateral talks meant to erase suspicions it may be trying to build nuclear arms in violation of its treaty commitments. As permanent members of the council, Russia and China hold the power to veto its actions, as do the United States, France and Britain, which drew up the sanctions resolution.
Iran insists it won't halt uranium enrichment, which it says is intended solely to produce fuel for nuclear reactors that will generate electricity. But enrichment also can produce material for nuclear warheads, and the U.S. and others are suspicious of Iran's intentions.
posted by wnsworld @ 5:36 PM
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