UN agrees to 'toughest ever' Iran sanctions

The new restrictions approved yesterday, which target Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, its ballistic missiles programme and various nuclear-related investments, have been described by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as the toughest ever – but are still far short of crippling economic punishments or an embargo on oil shipments, Iran's main source of income.

Britain's Foreign Secretary, William Hague, hailed the new sanctions as a "very significant step forward".

He said: "Iran's position has already been for a long time that it won't enter into meaningful negotiations about its nuclear programme.

"The importance of this resolution, with such strong backing in the Security Council – including from all of the five permanent members – is that it's the world saying, 'you can't just refuse to negotiate. We are not just going to walk away'.

"This is a very significant step forward, it really shows the international resolve on this issue."

The resolution imposing a fourth round of sanctions was approved by a vote of 12-2, with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey voting against.

The latter two countries, both non-permanent council members, brokered a fuel-swap agreement with Iran which they hoped would address concerns Tehran may be enriching uranium for nuclear weapons and avoid new sanctions.

The Security Council imposed limited sanctions in December 2006 and has been ratcheting them up in hopes of pressuring Iran to suspend enrichment and start negotiations on its nuclear programme.

Iran has repeatedly defied the demand and has stepped up its activities, enriching uranium to 20 per cent and announcing plans to build new nuclear facilities. Tehran insists its actions are entirely peaceful, aimed at producing nuclear energy.

But Western nations believe Iran's real aim is to produce nuclear weapons, and want it to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations.

The new resolution bans Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bars Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining, and prohibits Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons, including attack helicopters and missiles.

It imposes new sanctions on 40 Iranian companies and organisations linked to Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard or involved in nuclear or ballistic missile activities.

It also imposes travel bans on 41 Iranian individuals already subjected to an asset freeze, and calls on all countries to co-operate in cargo inspections if there are "reasonable grounds" to believe the cargo could contribute to Iranian nuclear program.

China and Russia have strong economic ties with Iran, but last week Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a resolution would protect the economic interests of both countries.

China's UN Ambassador Zhang Yesui said yesterday the sanctions were aimed at curbing non-proliferation, and would not affect "the normal life of the Iranian people".