A UN Security Council draft resolution, seen by Reuters on Tuesday, calls for expanding punitive measures against Iran, its banking and other industries for refusing to halt sensitive nuclear activities. The 10-page draft resolution, which was agreed to by the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, also calls for the establishment of an international inspection regime for vessels suspected of containing cargo related to Iran's nuclear or missile programs. The decision to circulate the resolution to the 15-nation Security Council was a tacit rebuff to a deal brokered by Brazil and Turkey and made public on Monday in which Iran agreed to send some uranium abroad. US officials regard that deal as a maneuver by Iran to delay more UN sanctions. Brazil's UN ambassador made clear her country was unhappy that the sanctions draft was introduced at a council meeting. “Brazil is not engaging in any discussion on a draft at this point because we feel that there is a new situation,” Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti told reporters outside the Security Council chamber. “There was an agreement yesterday which is a very important one.” The draft “calls upon states to take appropriate measures that prohibit” the opening of new Iranian bank branches or offices abroad if there is reason to suspect they might be aiding Iran's nuclear or missile programs. It also calls on states “to exercise vigilance over transactions involving Iranian banks, including the Central Bank of Iran” to ensure that those transactions do not aid Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. It also urges countries to be wary of dealing with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and says some members and companies controlled by it will be added to existing lists of individuals and firms facing asset freezes and travel bans. Another measure in the draft is a proposed ban on Iranian investment in sensitive nuclear activities abroad. The draft resolution, Western diplomats say, was the result of a series of compromises between the United States and its three European allies, which had pushed for tough sanctions against Tehran, and Russia and China, which worked hard to dilute the proposed measures outlined in earlier drafts. The draft, which would impose a fourth round of UN sanctions against Tehran, also calls for an expansion of an already existing arms embargo against Iran to include some further categories of heavy weapons.
