UN Security Council slaps sanctions on Iran

The UN Security Council today slapped sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme targeting the powerful revolutionary guard, ballistic missiles, and nuclear-related investments, despite opposition from Brazil and Turkey.

In the 15-member Council, 12 countries, including the US and Britain, voted in favour of the resolution with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey voting against.

The new resolution, which is fourth against Iran to be adopted by the UNSC, creates new categories of sanctions like banning Iran's investment in nuclear activity abroad, banning all ballistic missiles activities, blocking Iran's use of banks aboard and asset freezes for members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The resolution will blacklist entities that includes fifteen enterprises of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, three entities owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and 23 industrial companies. 

The international community accuses Iran of  seeking to develop an atomic weapon.But, Tehran has been maintaining that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful civilian purposes.

India has been maintaining that it is opposed to such kinds of sanctions as it will affect the common people more than the establishment.

Russia and China, which have previously raised objections against such sanctions, supported the resolution and said they were happy with the text of the resolution as long as it did not have any negative impact on the people.

Turkey and Brazil were apparently upset after they brokered a fuel-swap agreement with Iran which they hoped would address concerns that Tehran may be enriching uranium for nuclear weapons and avoid new sanctions.

Speaking from Ecuador on Tuesday, secretary of state Hillary Clinton described the resolution as the "the most significant sanctions that Iran has ever faced."

US defence secretary Robert Gates said the resolution would allow individual countries to pursue their own measures against Tehran. 

"This is not a resolution comprised of voluntary measures, there are many serious, new binding measures in this new resolution and we feel very pleased with its content," said Susan Rice, US ambassador to the UN, after the final discussion on Tuesday.

"It is strong, it is broad based, and it will have a significant impact on Iran, which is why Iran has worked so hard to try to prevent its adoption,” she added. 

Resolutions have been passed against Iran in 2006, 2007 and 2008.