UN poised to pass Iran sanctions despite threat

[maddezmom]

Ahmadinejad warns of immediate retaliation
· US and Britain step up naval presence in Gulf

Ewen MacAskill and Richard Norton-Taylor
Friday December 22, 2006
The Guardian


The United Nations security council is finally expected to pass a resolution today to impose international sanctions on Iran for the first time since the 1979 revolution, a punitive move that will heighten diplomatic tensions and risks a military confrontation in the Gulf.

Iran has threatened immediate retaliation, even though the proposed sanctions have been significantly watered down this week. Tehran's options include withdrawal from the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN nuclear watchdog, which would mean Iran would conduct its nuclear programme free from international monitoring, and possible closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the channel for 20% of the world's oil supplies.


The resolution will impose extremely limited restrictions on international travel on Iranians associated with the nuclear programme, a freeze on their overseas assets and a ban on nuclear-related exports. Western officials yesterday predicted that a draft resolutionwould be voted on today in New York, bringing to an end six months of negotiations.

Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, who is responsible for nuclear negotiations, was quoted by an Iranian news agency yesterday as saying that Iran would not be deflected by the sanctions. "The nature of this resolution is not capable of pressuring Iran, and Iran will give an appropriate response to it," Mr Larijani said, adding: "This behaviour will just create more problems." He said that Iran would review its cooperation with the IAEA and look at other political, economic and cultural options.


more:http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,,1977482,00.html

[maddezmom]

1. Russia seeks delay in planned vote on Iran sanctions

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Russia is pushing for a one-day delay in a planned vote on a UN resolution sanctioning Iran for pursuing its nuclear program.

In a last-minute exercise of brinkmanship diplomacy, envoys of the 15-member council's five veto-wielding members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany are set to meet early Friday for final negotiations on whether to hold the vote or postpone it.

On Thursday they huddled for what was supposed to be a last bargaining session ahead of the crucial vote.

But Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin emerged from the meeting, saying he wanted the council vote put off to at least Saturday.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061222/wl_afp/irannuclearpoliticsun_061222124920

[Nihil]

2. Help me on this please?

> The resolution will impose extremely limited restrictions on international
> travel on Iranians associated with the nuclear programme, a freeze on
> their overseas assets and a ban on nuclear-related exports.

On the other hand, Iran will be far more restrictive on where their tame
scientists are allowed to go (hell, the UK & US are with their guys) and,
given that they haven't got anything up & running to production levels yet,
the amount of "nuclear-related exports" involved is just about zero.

In other words, the glorious "Security Council resolution" is just another
robbery, separating the overseas assets from their legal owners.

If the amounts involved were in the hundreds of dollars (oops, euros) then
the thieves would be arrested, prosecuted and punished but as the amounts
are in the millions, there is no problem with it.

How is this extortion supposed to set a good example to a sovereign state?
:shrug:

[Eugene]

3. AP: Russia Asks Amendments on Iran Sanctions

Russia Asks Amendments on Iran Sanctions


Friday December 22, 2006 10:01 PM

AP Photo NYSW110

By EDITH M. LEDERER

Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Russia pressed Friday for amendments to ensure it can conduct
legitimate nuclear activities in Iran ahead of an expected vote Saturday on a U.N.
resolution that would impose sanctions against Tehran for refusing to suspend
uranium enrichment.

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said Moscow wants to ensure the resolution is
geared to restarting negotiations with Iran, not punishing it, and that sanctions focus
on activities that could lead to the production of nuclear weapons.

Britain, France and Germany, the co-sponsors of the resolution, had been pressing for a
vote Friday. Instead, the council was expected to meet late Friday to discuss final
revisions to the text.

Britain's U.N. ambassador, Emyr Jones Parry, said a vote was expected Saturday.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6298331,00.html