The UN Security Council voted overwhelmingly to tighten UN sanctions on Iran in its latest bid to pressure Tehran into suspending uranium enrichment that the West fears is aimed at developing nuclear weapons.
Resolution 1803, sponsored by Britain, France and Germany, was backed by 14 of the council's 15 members. Indonesia abstained during the vote which was presided by Russia, the council chair for March. Libya, South Africa and Vietnam joined Indonesia in expressing reservations about this third set of sanctions against the Islamic Republic but decided to vote in favour in the end.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Iran's UN Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee blasted what he called an "unjust and irrational decision" which he said "undermines the integrity and credibility" of the council. Accusing the Western sponsors of the resolution of pursuing "a politically motivated agenda," he said: "We do not consider this call for suspension legitimate."
"Iran cannot and will not accept a requirement that is legally defective" and politically motivated, he added, referring to the resolution's demand for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.
After the vote, Britain's UN Ambassador John Sawers read out a statement on behalf of the six powers which have been trying to scale back Tehran's nuclear ambitions - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States reiterating a 2006 offer of economic and trade incentives to Iran in exchange for enrichment suspension.
Sawers said Resolution 1803 reflected "serious concern" about the proliferation risks of the Iranian nuclear program and for the third time sent a "strong message" to Tehran. Ahead of the vote, Tehran warned Monday that adoption of the resolution would only complicate the stand-off with the West.
"Any irrational and unlawful act will not help resolve Iran's nuclear issue. It will complicate the dealings around this issue and it will become more difficult," said Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation deputy head, Mohammad Saeedi.
The Security Council vote came as IAEA chief Mohammed ElBaradei pressed Iran to clear up allegations that it was involved in covert nuclear weapons work.
"I urge Iran to be as active and as co-operative as possible in working with the agency to clarify this matter of serious concern," the head of the Vienna-based nuclear watchdog said.
"This is necessary to enable the agency to make a determination about the nature and scope of all of Iran's past nuclear activities," ElBaradei told the IAEA's 35-member board of governors at the start of its regular March meeting. The West fears the know-how gained from uranium enrichment could give Iran the capability to build nuclear weapons.
But the Islamic republic, which adamantly refuses to halt enrichment work, insists its nuclear program is peaceful and geared only toward production of electricity. The draft includes an outright ban on travel by officials involved in Tehran's nuclear and missile programs, and broadens a list of individuals and entities subject to an assets freeze.
It calls for inspections of shipments to and from Iran if there are suspicions of prohibited goods and urges states to "exercise vigilance" in entering into new commitments for public-provided financial support for trade with Iran, including the granting of export credits.
It also urges vigilance in dealing with "all banks domiciled in Iran, in particular Bank Melli and Bank Saderat and their branches and subsidiaries based abroad." The two previous sets of sanctions against Iran were adopted unanimously by the Security Council in December 2006 and March 2007.