Quick OK eyed on Iran sanctions

BERLIN -- Germany and China urged rapid approval of a UN draft resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran for its nuclear program after South Africa surprised major powers by proposing a softening of the document's wording.

The proposed resolution, designed to pressure Iran to halt its uranium enrichment work, would put in place an embargo on Iranian arms exports and freeze financial assets abroad of 28 individuals, groups, and companies.

It is a follow-up to a previous resolution adopted by the Security Council in December and was expected to be voted on this week after Germany and permanent council members Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States agreed on the text.

But South Africa, the current chair of the Security Council, has called for all key sanctions proposed by major powers, including an arms embargo and financial bans on an Iranian state bank and the Revolutionary Guard, to be dropped.

Although the original draft could probably be adopted by the Security Council without South Africa's backing, the major powers had wanted it to be passed unanimously.

The German government said that Chancellor Angela Merkel had spoken with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Monday and that both supported quick approval of the new resolution.

Separately yesterday, Russian and Iranian officials denied a report in The New York Times that said Russia had told Tehran it would withhold fuel for its Bushehr nuclear power plant unless it suspends uranium enrichment.

The newspaper, citing European, American, and Iranian officials, had reported that Igor Ivanov, secretary of the Russian National Security Council, had delivered the ultimatum to Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Hosseini Tash last week.