UN security council backs new sanctions against Iran
Monday, 03 Mar 2008 19:56
Iranian nuclear sites disputed by the international community
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The UN security council has approved a third set of sanctions against
Iran's nuclear development programme.
Western nations fear Tehran is using its civil nuclear energy programme as a cover for its ambitions to develop a nuclear arsenal, a claim consistently denied by Iran.
After repeated warnings the international community has stepped up its effort to deter Iran's pursuit of nuclear technology.
In today's vote 14 of the 15 members of the UN security council backed the proposal, tabled by the UK, France and Germany. Indonesia was the only abstention.
The move means trade with Iran in goods which have both civil and military uses is prohibited for the first time.
Earlier sanctions in 2006 and 2007 had exclusively targeted materials used in nuclear development.
The US imposed additional unilateral sanctions against Iran in October 2007 related to Tehran's alleged support of terrorism in neighbouring Iraq and in the wider
Middle East region.
November saw a US national intelligence estimate reverse Washington's previous line that Iran was seeking a nuclear bomb, saying it had abandoned this goal as early as 2003.