Russia wants soft sanctions against Iran

Russians insist proposal to impose a travel ban on Iranian scientists, officials be lifted, demands delay in vote till Saturday; Israel closely following developments, wants sanctions as soon as possible

Yitzhak Benhorin|Last update: 12.23.06 , 03:40

WASHINGTON - The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene Saturday to debate a US-backed draft bill calling for imposing sanctions on Iran for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment as demanded by the international community.

The United States, France, Germany and Britain are seeking to persuade Russia and China, who have strong economic ties with the Islamic Republic, to toe the line and support the draft.

Deeply alarmed by serial remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Iran will be wipe out, Israeli officials are eagerly awaiting the vote's results.

Bushehr nuclear reactor (Photo: AFP)

Russia is opposed to the inclusion of an article forwarding a mandatory travel ban on Iranians working on Iran's nuclear program.

Council president Qatar said the vote will be held on Saturday, ignoring US demands for a Friday vote.

Ynet has learnt that Russian President Vladimir Putin will study the draft resolution on Friday evening and will make a decision on whether to back the imposition of sanctions on Iran or use Russia's veto right.

Russia for soft draft

The US is fed up with the stalemate over sanctions, and some are calling for a speedy vote to expose the Russian bluff and to see whether Putin will choose to abstain or use its veto power.

Iranians in favor of nuclear program (Photo: AP)

American officials said Russian abstention in the vote will lay the way for adopting a resolution advocating sanctions on Iran.

Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, according to council diplomats, wanted to soften a provision calling for a freeze on financial assets abroad of 11 individuals and 12 Iranian organizations associated with nuclear programs to prevent them from buying dangerous materials. The list is attached to the resolution.

Iran has vowed to continue its nuclear program, which it says is for peaceful uses only, even if the resolution is adopted with the approval of Russia, which is building an USD 800 million light-water reactor for Tehran at Bushehr that is exempted in the resolution.

Israel: Sanctions are a must

"There is a need to impose sanctions of any kind on the Iranians. Seventeen months have passed since the resolution that demanded a halt to uranium enrichment and five months since an ultimatum was given to the Iranians," Israeli officials told Ynet.

Iran's Take

Iran: UN resolution won't stop nuclear work

News agencies

Tehran remains defiant in face of planned US sanctions resolution against it. 'The nature of this resolution is not capable of pressuring Iran and Iran will give an appropriate response to it,' Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, says

Iran: UN resolution won't stop nuclear work

"Iran is learning from the book that North Korea is writing. Iran too, like North Korea, continues to stall for time and to openly ignore the international community. The difference is that North Korea is not wary of remaining isolated from the world, but Iran, despite its declarations, fears such isolation," the officials said.

"The ball is now in the courts of the five permanent members of the Security Council … We played our part, including a visit to Moscow last week by Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovich. The ten remaining members have taken stance depending on the block to which they belong," they added.

Iran's quest after enriched uranium

In April 2005, Iran announced for the first time that it had successfully enriched uranium in spite of opposition from the international community. They could only enrich uranium in small amounts and with low concentration. However, the West was concerned by Iranian engineers' amassing of experience, and obtaining know-how combined with Iranian efforts to increase output.

After international efforts to grant benefits to Iran in exchange for foregoing their nuclear aspirations fell through, it was decided to propose an ultimatum to freeze uranium enrichment by August 31. This date, however, came and went as Iran continued to ignore international demands.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran continued enriching uranium as there was yet to be proof that their final objective was nuclear weapons. Nevertheless, the international community decided to put together a resolution punishing the Iranian regime and its nuclear program.

During recent months, Israel has taken action together with other world powers in order to advance a resolution to impose sanctions. But until now, the necessary agreement between the five permanent members of the UN Security Council has yet to be obtained.

In one camp are the United States, Britain, and France, who are demanding severe sanctions "with teeth." On the other side of the issue are Russia an China who are demanding that softer sanctions be applied so as not to damage economic connections they have with Iran in other sectors.

The Russians are standing strong on their interest to complete construction of the light-water reactor in Buhsher. To this end, the Russians claim that movement of senior Iranian officials between Iran and Russia must not be restricted. The Russians expect the sanctions, if and when they are imposed, to lead Iran to the negotiation table.