This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7274902.stm

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
UN to vote on new Iran sanctions UN approves new sanctions on Iran
(about 6 hours later)
The UN Security Council is expected to vote in favour of new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. The UN Security Council has voted in favour of new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
Western powers suspect Iran may be developing nuclear weapons and want new sanctions in addition to those imposed in 2006 and 2007. Fourteen of the council's 15 members voted in favour of measures including asset freezes and travel bans for Iranian officials. Indonesia abstained.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful power generation only. Western powers suspect Iran may be developing nuclear weapons, but Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful power generation only.
But Tehran has refused to comply with security council demands that it stop enriching uranium, a possible precursor to building an atomic bomb. Tehran has refused to comply with demands that it stop enriching uranium.
The third sanctions resolution - formally submitted by France and Britain - calls for asset freezes and mandatory travel bans for specific Iranian officials. This can be undertaken for power generation, but may also be a precursor to building an atomic bomb.
Q&A: Iran nuclear issuesQ&A: Iran nuclear issues
It also expands the list of Iranian officials and companies targeted by the sanctions. This third sanctions resolution - formally submitted by France and Britain - adds to resolutions adopted in 2006 and 2007.
The five permanent members of the council - France, Britain, China, the US and Russia - plus six non-permanent members back the new sanctions. It calls for the foreign assets of 13 Iranian companies to be frozen, and imposes travel bans on five Iranian officials.
But the other four non-permanent members - South Africa, Libya, Indonesia and Vietnam - have said they are reluctant to pass more sanctions at a time when the UN's nuclear watchdog says Iran's co-operation with its inspectors has improved. It imposes a ban on the sale to Iran of so-called dual-use items - which can have either a military or civilian purpose.
Iranian anger
The five permanent, veto-wielding members of the council - France, Britain, China, the US and Russia - all supported the resolution.
The non-permanent members - none of whom possesses the power of veto - all backed it, except Indonesia, which abstained, saying it remained to be convinced of the necessity of the sanctions.
The vote had been planned for Saturday, but was delayed to give the sponsors time to try to win over four members - Indonesia, Libya, South Africa and Vietnam - who had expressed doubts.
In a statement before the vote, Iran's envoy to the UN, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, described the resolution as politically motivated, illegal, and illegitimate.
He insisted Iran's nuclear programme "has been, is, and will remain, absolutely peaceful".
He said Iran would ignore the sanctions.
'Forged''Forged'
The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported in February that Iran had cleared up most of the outstanding questions regarding its past nuclear activities.The UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, reported in February that Iran had cleared up most of the outstanding questions regarding its past nuclear activities.
But the IAEA has criticised Iran for refusing to clarify remaining questions about intelligence suggesting Tehran may have been exploring ways to "weaponise" nuclear materials.But the IAEA has criticised Iran for refusing to clarify remaining questions about intelligence suggesting Tehran may have been exploring ways to "weaponise" nuclear materials.
Iran's envoy to the IAEA dismissed the intelligence as "forged and fabricated". Mr Soltanieh has dismissed the intelligence as "forged and fabricated".
The envoy, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, said in Vienna after a meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation board that "all the outstanding issues have been concluded". He said in Vienna after a meeting of the IAEA's 35-nation board that "all the outstanding issues have been concluded".
Earlier on Monday, IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei called on Iran "to be as active and co-operative as possible in working with the agency" to resolve the issue.Earlier on Monday, IAEA head Mohamed ElBaradei called on Iran "to be as active and co-operative as possible in working with the agency" to resolve the issue.