Sanctions against Iran on brink

After months of delicate diplomacy the United States is on the brink of ushering in a fourth round of punitive United Nations sanctions against Iran over its nuclear enrichment programme.

Passage of the sanctions resolution through the UN Security Council would be a moment of reckoning for Iran. Just as the US has worked tirelessly to make it happen, Tehran has spared no effort to stop it. Sources said that the measures, aimed at further isolating the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, were likely to be approved today.

"This is a more robust set of sanctions than we've ever had on Iran," insisted Susan Rice, the American Ambassador to the UN. "One of the reasons we think these sanctions will hurt is that the Iranians have been fighting so hard to defeat them."

Diplomats expect a 12-to-3 vote in the council with non-permanent members Turkey, Brazil and Lebanon siding against the resolution. Despite months of reluctance, Russia and China appeared ready to cast "yes" votes. Both governments are normally disinclined to support sanctions. They also have extensive economic ties with Iran.

For months, Washington has been quietly briefing world leaders and foreign ministers on why it believes Iran is lying when it says its nuclear programme is purely civilian in purpose.

But China was negotiating to limit the number of financial entities to be identified in annexes to the text. A compromise would see only one Iran bank actually named, the Export Bank of Iran.

ARMS, MINING TO FEEL THE PINCH

The sanctions would ...

* Significantly expand restrictions on arms sales to Iran to include eight new categories including tanks, fighter planes and missile systems.

* Impose a new ban on Iran investing in industries relating to the mining and enriching of uranium abroad. Likewise, Iran investment in missile-development industries overseas is banned. This is a new element included because of efforts by Iran to invest in mining operations in Zimbabwe and work with Syria developing missiles.

* Introduce a regime to encourage UN countries to stop and search any vessels or aircraft travelling to and from Iran suspected of carrying goods related to its nuclear efforts.

* Contain annexes that would include lists of new Iranian entities and individuals to be blacklisted.

* Impose measures against any Iranian bank suspected of having financial ties to nuclear programme. This includes a call on member states to desist doing business with any Iranian banks suspected of supporting nuclear effort.

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