13 March 2007
The United States and three European nations have moved closer to agreement with Russia and China on tougher sanctions against Iran, according to the Associated Press (AP) news agency. The acting US ambassador to the United Nations, Alejandro Wolff, said that the Security Council may vote on the proposed sanctions by the end of the week. AP reports that diplomats say the six powers – which include Britain, France and Germany – had ruled out a ban on international travel by Iranian officials involved in nuclear and missile development. They also are unlikely to ban arms imports or export credit guarantees for companies doing business in Iran. However according to the report, the new sanctions resolution is expected to include an embargo on arms exports, a ban on government loans to Iran and an asset freeze affecting more individuals and companies linked to Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. "It is a package approach, and so there are things that we're very pleased about, and things that we're less pleased about – and likewise for probably every delegation involved," Wolff was quoted as saying.
