S. Africa protests plan to sanction Iran

[allesennogwat]

UNITED NATIONS - South Africa on Tuesday protested a "rush" by the five veto-wielding Security Council members to adopt new United Nations sanctions against Iran, saying it wants to wait for a report from the U.N. nuclear agency later this month.


The five permanent Security Council members — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — had circulated the text of the proposed resolution Friday night to South Africa and the nine other elected council members, who serve two-year terms.

It includes the same proposed sanctions first reported by The Associated Press on Jan. 25. They include bans on travel and equipment that can be used in civilian and nuclear programs, stepped-up monitoring of Iran's financial institutions and inspection of air and sea cargo heading to or from Iran.

South Africa's U.N. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo told reporters the International Atomic Energy Agency will issue a new report on Iran's nuclear activities by Feb. 20th.

"Why are we rushing? Can't we wait for it?" he asked. "We just want to be sure that the council has all the information that it requires before it acts, but the timing is very important."

Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the foreign ministers of the five powers, along with Germany — which has been a key negotiator with Iran — want council action soon.

Delaying a vote until after the atomic energy agency report "is not the kind of understanding they had among the six foreign ministers," he said.

The six global powers offered Iran a package of economic incentives and political rewards in June 2006 if it agreed to freeze uranium enrichment before talks on its nuclear program. But Iran has refused, despite two previous sets of U.N. sanctions.

Iran insists its enrichment activities are intended only to produce fuel for nuclear reactors, but the U.S., the European Union and others suspect its real aim is to produce atomic weapons.

The draft resolution, obtained by the AP, expresses concern at "the proliferation risks presented by the Iranian nuclear program" and again demands that Iran suspend enrichment and resolve outstanding questions about its nuclear program "without delay."

Under the proposed new sanctions, all countries would have to ban the entry or transit of individuals involved in Iran's nuclear program, including procurement activities — a step up from a previous call for vigilance over their travel.

For the first time, trade in equipment and technology that can be used in both civilian and nuclear programs would also be banned.

The proposed resolution also calls on countries to inspect cargo heading to or from Iran on aircraft or vessels owned or operated by Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line "provided there are reasonable grounds to believe" that prohibited goods are being transported.

South Africa's Kumalo said his government wants "clarity" on the inspections.

"What happens if you search the wrong boat that has nothing, because it may be an Iranian boat, and it may be an innocent one? They'll sue us," he said.

The new draft would also freeze the assets of additional individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear activities that were not identified.

Iran says it will only deal with the IAEA, but the draft resolution encourages European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana "to continue communication with Iran ... with a view to create necessary conditions for resuming talks" on its nuclear program.

The draft resolution calls for a report from IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei in 90 days on Iran's compliance with the council's demands and says the council will suspend sanctions for as long as Tehran suspends enrichment and reprocessing activities.

But the draft also says it will consider "further appropriate measures" if Tehran fails to comply.

[allesennogwat]

A rocket takes off at from an unidentified secret location in Iran in this video grab from February 4, 2008.

[allesennogwat]

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad shows his support for the Double mint twins.

[allesennogwat]

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wears 3-D glasses to watch a program about an Iranian rocket during a visit to the control centre for Iran's space programme near Tehran February 4, 2008. Iran launched a rocket on Monday designed to send its first homemade research satellite into orbit in the next year, state television said, a move likely to add to Western concerns about Tehran's nuclear plans.