UNITED NATIONS/WASHINGTON, May 19 (IANS) - Even as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a nuclear fuel swap deal for Iran worked out by Brazil and Turkey could be a positive step, the United States introduced a UN resolution for new sanctions against Tehran.
The resolution introduced Tuesday with pivotal support from China and Russia seeks sanctions against Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard and new measures to try to curtail Iran's military, financial and shipping activities.
The draft resolution would ban Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," freeze assets of nuclear-related companies linked to the Revolutionary Guard, bar Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining and prohibit Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons.
The draft resolution stresses the willingness of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council - US, Russia, China, France and Britain - "to further enhance diplomatic efforts to promote dialogue and consultations ... without preconditions."
US Ambassador Susan Rice said the resolution would give "greater teeth" to existing sanctions and add "strong" new measures to intensify pressure on the Iranian government to resolve concerns that its nuclear programme is peaceful and not aimed at producing nuclear weapons.
She presented the draft to the 10 non-permanent council members - including Brazil and Turkey - and said the US will work hard to win support from as many members as possible. She said she is confident the resolution will get the minimum 9 "yes" votes.
Rice said the US considers new sanctions "urgent" but wouldn't speculate on when the resolution will be put to a vote.
Meanwhile, Ban's spokesman Martin Nesirky said the secretary-general believes Iran's deal with Turkey and Brazil "could be a positive step in building confidence about Iran's nuclear programme, if followed by broader engagement with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the international community."
The IAEA has received the text of the Joint Declaration signed yesterday by Iran, Brazil and Turkey, and the Agency is awaiting written notification from Tehran that it agrees with the relevant provisions in the agreement.
The Secretary-General, Nesirky said, looks forward to the IAEA's assessment on the substantive elements of the Declaration.
"He also urges once again that Iran comply fully with the relevant Security Council resolutions and provide cooperation to the IAEA to the fullest extent to resolve all the outstanding concerns over its nuclear programmes."
Under the agreement brokered by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, Iran will ship its low-enriched uranium out of the country in exchange for high-enriched uranium for use at a civilian nuclear research site in Tehran.
Iranian authorities hold that the country's activities are for peaceful purposes, while the US and its allies contend they are driven by military ambitions.
The IAEA has repeatedly stated that it cannot confirm that all Iran's nuclear material is for peaceful activities because the country has not provided the necessary cooperation.
