Big powers make changes in Iran sanctions text
UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Major powers produced amendments on Thursday to get votes from South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar on sanctions against Iran for refusing to halt uranium enrichment that can be used in a nuclear weapon.
No date for a vote has been set and could be delayed until next week as any changes have to be sent to the governments of the 15 U.N. Security Council members for approval.
But U.S. Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said a vote late on Friday was "still possible." Other diplomats said Saturday was a possibility.
Among the changes, diplomats, said was adding language mentions a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East, as Indonesia's U.N. ambassador Rezland Ishar Jenie requested.
Wolff said the changes had to be "consistent with the framework" of the resolution, drafted by Germany and the five permanent council members with veto rights -- Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States.
South Africa's amendments are more problematic. It has proposed stripping the text of its key provisions, including a partial arms embargo and financial restrictions on Iranian officials and institutions. The sources said the amendments would include a description of the names on the list.
Pretoria also wants a 90-day "time out" in imposing any new and previous sanctions, which Britain's U.N. ambassador, Emyr Jones Parry, called "totally perverse." He said that talks had been going on with Iran for years and every pause gave Tehran time to "develop and enhance" it nuclear arms capability.
South Africa's main objection is that the new text would impose penalties outside of the nuclear sphere.
STRIVING FOR UNANIMOUS VOTE
Negotiators said the Indonesian and Qatar suggestions were easier to accommodate, which could isolate South Africa, although they are striving for a unanimous vote to give the resolution more weight.
The draft resolution would ban exports of all weapons and freeze assets abroad of 28 additional people and institutions, including commanders of Iran's Revolutionary Guards and companies they control and the state-owned Bank Sepah.
It also calls for restrictions on new financial assistance or loans to the Iranian government.
The new text is a follow-up to one adopted in December banning trade in sensitive nuclear materials and ballistic missiles as well as a freezing of assets of individuals and institutions associated with atomic programs.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to address the council on the day of the vote on how its nuclear program is for generating energy only.
John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters in New York this week that it was good the council could hear from the Iranian leader.
"It would be very important to hear Ahmadinejad, especially for those who think Iran can be talked out of its pursuit of nuclear weapons diplomatically," Bolton said.
(Additional reporting by Daniel Trotta)
