China objects to US unilateral sanctions on Iran

(AFP) – – China warned other nations Tuesday against taking unilateral actions against Iran’s nuclear programme outside newly passed UN sanctions and denounced the United States for making such moves.

China, under pressure from the United States and Europe, last month voted with 11 other UN Security Council nations for a fourth set of sanctions on Iran over its uranium enrichment.

The sanctions target Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles and nuclear-related investments.

Last week, US President Barack Obama signed into law far-reaching new sanctions on Iran that aim to curb Tehran’s fuel imports and deepen its international isolation.

“We have noted the US announcements on unilateral sanctions on Iran,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang told journalists.

“China believes that countries should earnestly, correctly and comprehensively implement the sanctions and avoid making arbitrary interpretations that expand the Security Council sanctions.”

Qin reiterated China’s long-standing position that diplomacy and dialogue were the best way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.

Western governments suspect Iran of seeking to develop a weapons capability under cover of its civilian nuclear programme, an allegation Tehran strongly denies.

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20100706/tap-iran-nuclear-politics-us-china-sanct-8d4ea94.html

UN slaps fourth set of sanctions on Iran

(AFP) – World powers on Wednesday slapped new military and financial sanctions on Iran aiming to rein in its suspect nuclear program, but stressed that the door remains open for talks.

A US-drafted resolution was adopted by 12 votes in favor in the 15-member Security Council, with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey voting against.

Though swiftly hailed by the United States, Britain and France who co-sponsored the resolution, the move drew an immediate, scornful reaction from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

“These resolutions are not worth a dime for the Iranian nation,” Ahmadinejad, who earlier threatened to suspend negotiations with six major powers if the sanctions were imposed, told ISNA news agency in Tajikistan.

He said he had told world powers “that the resolutions you issue are like a used hanky which should be thrown in the dust bin.”

US President Barack Obama however said Iran now faced the “toughest-ever” sanctions regime, which sent “an unmistakable message about the international community’s commitment to stopping the spread of nuclear weapons.”

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Medvedev signals openness to Iran sanctions after talks

(CNN) — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met Wednesday with U.S. President Barack Obama, then signaled he could support sanctions against Iran over its efforts to develop a nuclear weapon.
“Russia’s position is clear: Sanctions rarely lead to productive results, but in some cases sanctions are inevitable,” Medvedev said in a joint appearance with Obama after their talks.

The statement bolsters U.S.-led efforts for increased international pressure on Iran to adhere to nonproliferation agreements in pursuing the development of nuclear energy.

Iran claims its nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes, but the international community accuses the nation of continuing to try to develop nuclear weapons capability.

The United States and Russia previously have disagreed over Iran, and over possible steps the U.N. Security Council may take — including imposing sanctions — to push Tehran to comply with U.N. demands concerning its nuclear program.

Medvedev said Wednesday that he and Obama discussed negotiations with Iran, including possible incentives, to help it “make the right decision.”

He then opened the door to sanctions, indicating a more unified approach to the issue.

Obama praised Medvedev for what he called an “excellent working relationship” the two have developed.

Iran has been “violating too many of its international commitments,” Obama said. He committed himself to negotiating with Iran on the issue, but said “serious sanctions” were a possibility if Iran failed to respond seriously.

Last week, Obama announced that the United States was dropping plans to base a missile defense shield system in Poland and the Czech Republic, a proposal that had rankled Moscow.

Speaking on Sunday’s “Face The Nation” on CBS, Obama said his objective in revamping the U.S. defense shield plan “was not to negotiate with the Russians.”

“The Russians don’t make determinations about what our defense posture is,” Obama told CBS.

“If the byproduct of it is that the Russians feel a little less paranoid and are now willing to work more effectively with us to deal with threats like ballistic missiles from Iran or the nuclear development in Iran, you know, then that’s a bonus.”

Meanwhile, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton met with ministers of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Russia — plus Germany to prepare for the upcoming talks with Iran.

Iran, Clinton told reporters after the meeting, should come to the October 1 talks “ready to engage” on its nuclear program. She said the international community continues to have “serious concerns” that Iran’s nuclear program could be used for military purposes.

Clinton wouldn’t talk about sanctions but said “clearly there are consequences” if Iran does not address international concerns. The next step, she said, would be determined by the outcome of the meeting.

“This process is now firmly up to Iran,” she said.

British foreign Secretary David Miliband read a statement on behalf of the group, urging Iran to cooperate further with the International Atomic Energy Agency to address concerns about the “possibility of military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear program.”

“We have consistently stated that we want to negotiate a comprehensive long-term agreement to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue,” he said. “But this can only be achieved if both sides are willing to approach these matters in a spirit of mutual respect and are committed to looking for solutions going forward.”

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/23/us.russia.iran/