Western envoys threaten Iran with new UN sanctions

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) – Western powers upped the pressure on Iran Thursday, threatening to push for new UN sanctions early next year if Tehran continues to defy demands to halt its sensitive nuclear fuel work.

But the renewed pressure met with requests for patience from China and Russia.

Britain's UN ambassador Mark Grant told reporters that discussions of new UN sanctions would start "at the beginning of the new year" if Tehran fails to reassure the world community about the peaceful nature of its nuclear program.

His French counterpart Gerard Araud said: "We make a last call to Iran to respond" to Security Council demands. "If Iran does not... France will present a new resolution of sanctions."

And US Ambassador Susan Rice stressed that the international community "stands firm in its conviction that Iran must comply with its international obligations."

"Should Iran continue to fail to meet its obligations, the international community will have to consider further actions," she added.

The three Western envoys made the remarks after hearing a report from the head of the UN Security Council panel monitoring implementation of a 2007 resolution slapping Iran with an export ban on arms.

The panel gave details of two recent incidents in which vessels carrying arms-related materiel from Iran to Syria were intercepted by UN member states.

Last month, Iran and Syria rejected Israel's accusations that a ship it had intercepted in the Mediterranean was carrying arms from Iran for Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

"We are facing a pattern of violations by the Islamic Republic of Iran," Araud told reporters. "We are now convinced that there is a deliberate attempt by Iran to violate the UN resolutions."

And he also pointed out that, in parallel, all efforts by six major powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- to coax Tehran into abandoning its nuclear enrichment program -- had failed.

Western powers suspect Tehran is using uranium enrichment as a cover to acquire nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying its sole ambition is to develop nuclear power for peaceful ends.

"The clock is ticking," Araud said. "We consider the time has come to increase the pressure (on Iran)."

Rice also warned that "the time is short" while insisting that the six powers remained committed to a dual approach -- negotiations backed by threats of sanctions -- in the standoff with Tehran.

Grant meanwhile pointed to a "deliberate attempt" by Iran to violate UN resolutions, including "the illegal exports of shipments of arms."

Warning that the patience of the six powers trying to clip Iran's nuclear ambitions "is running out," the British envoy added that foreign ministers of the six would review the issue by year's end.

"If there's no change of approach by Iran and no clear indication of a willingness to negotiate" on the basis of incentives offered to Iran to ensure it can pursue a purely peaceful nuclear program, "the Security Council will have to look again at further sanctions against Iran in the new year."

But the Chinese and Russian ambassadors both took a more moderate line.

"There is still space for the diplomatic efforts of the international community to resume talks. It may require more time and patience on all parts," said China's Zhang Yesui.

Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin also urged "patience" and "restraint."

The Security Council has so far adopted three sets of sanctions against Tehran over its suspect nuclear program.

Late last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) voted to condemn Iran for building a second uranium enrichment plant and Tehran responded by announcing plans to build 10 new plants.

The IAEA vote followed Iran's rejection of a deal with major powers that would have seen it receive fuel for a Tehran reactor that produces medical isotopes in return for allaying Western concerns by shipping out most of its stocks of low-enriched uranium.