UN to threaten Iranians with sanctions over nuclear plans
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The UN Security Council has begun negotiations on a draft resolution that could lead to targeted sanctions against Iran because of its suspected nuclear weapons programme.
A senior US official, speaking in London, urged the 15-member council to act because the "dangerous" leadership in Tehran cannot be trusted when it says that its nuclear programme is purely peaceful.
"We cannot allow this dangerous regime to gain access to the most deadly of weapons. This radical regime poses a clear threat to international security. A nuclear-armed Iran could pose an even greater threat to the region, including Israel," said Greg Schulte, the American ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
The European-drafted resolution would compel Iran to give up its uranium enrichment programme, threatening unspecified "further measures" unless the process is halted.
Foreign ministers of the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany are to hold further talks but the Chinese and Russians remain wary of any sanctions.
The resolution does not accuse Iran of violating international law or the terms of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty but urges it to observe the UN demands in order "to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purposes of its programme".
Referring to the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has called for Israel to be wiped off the map and said the Holocaust was "a myth", Mr Schulte said: "We have to wonder what a man like that would do with nuclear weapons."
He accused the President of exploiting the nuclear issue to "solidify his grip on power".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments