World powers’ agreement on Iran sanctions

SIX world powers yesterday reached an agreement on a package of new sanctions against Iran including an embargo on arms exports and financial restrictions on more individuals and companies associated with Tehran’s nuclear and missile programmes, many linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

The governments of the five permanent Security Council nations — the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France — and Germany gave a green light to the draft resolution hammered out by their ambassadors. It will now be presented to the 10 non-permanent Security Council nations who have been left out of negotiations.

“It’s a text which is our suggestions. It’s not take it or leave it,” said Britain’s Emyr Jones Parry.

The non-permanent council members will need time to consider the text and the current council president, South Africa’s Dumisani Kumalo, said, “We anticipate that the voting would happen maybe well into next week.”

The agreement by the five veto-wielding permanent members will be a sign that they want to send a united message to Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.