TruthNews

US Circulating New Iran Sanctions Plan At UN

International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, 4 Mar 2010

Diplomats at the UN Security Council indicated on Wednesday that the US is circulating a plan for tough new sanctions on Iran’s banking, shipping and insurance sectors and is urging China and Russia to seriously consider the new measures.

The new sanctions are focused on banks and companies owned or controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and do not include the Islamic Republic’s oil and gas sector, as has been repeatedly urged by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The Russian and Chinese ambassadors at the UN did not immediately respond to the proposal but an American diplomat indicated that the Russians were initially unenthusiastic, saying that the new sanctions were too harsh, even though Russia views Iran’s approach in the prolonged dispute with growing concern.

The US, Britain and France are hoping to have a Security Council resolution on new sanctions passed by May, before Lebanon -- under the sway of Iranian proxy militia Hizbullah -- takes over the rotating presidency of the Council from France. That deadline would also be in time for a review of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. US President Barack Obama also plans to host a nuclear summit in Washington on April 12-13 and hopes that the leaders of the nuclear powers might be able to hammer out any differences that remain at that time.

Another key country and Security Council member, Brazil, voiced its opposition to new sanctions on Wednesday, telling visiting US secretary of State Hillary Clinton that it would only make the Iranians more intransigent and urging a return to negotiations.

Elsewhere, the EU announced on Wednesday that it would support the sanctions plan, saying that Iran has recently taken "provocative steps" to justify new sanctions, including enriching some of its uranium stockpiles to 20% without giving IAEA inspectors the required advance notice. "Iran's persistent failure to meet its international obligations and Iran's apparent lack of interest in pursuing negotiations require a clear response, including appropriate measures," the EU statement said.

Meanwhile, Italy announced on Wednesday that it has arrested seven people on suspicion of selling weapons to Iran in violation of previous UN sanctions and Italian government policy. "Their system ... often involved buying merchandise abroad and moving it between Italy and other nations to hide the final and real destination, which was Iran," Italian anti-terrorism prosecutor Armando Spataro told a news conference.