Any United Nations Security Council sanctions imposed on Iran for failing to stop its controversial nuclear research are likely to be limited, former US secretary of state Colin Powell said Sunday.
Speaking on British television, Powell also said the Islamic republic appeared to be ready to deal with the eventuality.
"I don't know that there is a very robust plan, or menu of sanctions. I think that the menu of sanctions would be quite limited... I mean those that could actually get through the Security Council," he said.
"(The Iranians) have decided to go forward even in the face of potential sanctions, which suggests to me that they have pretty much decided that they can accept whatever sanctions are coming their way."
Powell, however, rejected outright the reports recently that the United States was preparing a nuclear strike at Iran's suspected atomic weapons facilities.
"No, ... nuclear weapons have not been used since Hiroshima and Nagasaki," he said.
"I think it most unlikely that anybody would seriously contemplate use of a nuclear weapon in the 21st century and especially for such a purpose."
Powell's successor, Condoleezza Rice on Sunday accused Iran of "playing games" with its latest overtures to ease tensions over its fledgling nuclear programme, which the West suspects is a front for developing atomic weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Friday declared Tehran, which insists its intentions are purely peaceful, in breach of a UN order to halt uranium enrichment.
Rice said the United States would pursue its drive for a Security Council resolution against Iran under chapter seven of the UN charter, which would clear the way for possible sanctions or even military force.
But China and Russia, which both have vetoes on the council, are opposed to punitive measures.
Comments
Comments are closed.