Subscribe to Print Edition | Tue., January 22, 2008 Shvat 15, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:17 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Reuters Archives) Last update - 20:27 22/01/2008 German minister says six powers agree on new Iran resolution By News Agencies Tags: Germany, China, nuclear, Iran The UN Security Council's permanent members and Germany agreed Tuesday on the contents of a new draft resolution against Iran after talks on its nuclear program, the German foreign minister said. Diplomats said it would focus on strengthening and expanding existing sanctions. "We agreed together today on the contents of such a resolution," Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting his counterparts from the U.S., France, Britain, Russia and China. Germany, France and Great Britain will submit a draft resolution to the Security Council, where it could be discussed with the remaining council members over the coming weeks, he said. Officials said that all six in attendance at the two-hour meeting would vote for the resolution. Advertisement The Security Council already has imposed two rounds of sanctions over Iran's defiance of international demands that it suspend uranium enrichment. A European diplomat and a U.S. official, both speaking of condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the resolution would expand existing sanctions. But the European diplomat said it would not feature new economic sanctions. "It increased the severity of the sanctions, and it expands the sanctions in some of the categories," the U.S. official said. The U.S. official referred specially to travel bans and asset freezes, but said the group agreed not to release the full text of the agreement until it had been distributed to the rest of the Security Council in the coming days. "This is a swift reminder to the Iranians that they are not in compliance," the U.S. official said. "This resolution builds on the last two resolutions ... (and) it has some new elements that will be unveiled in New York," the U.S. official said. Steinmeier said that "we appeal jointly with all urgency to the leadership in Tehran to comply without reservation with the demands of the Security Council and the International Atomic Energy Agency," the UN nuclear watchdog. "Tehran has it in its power to seek the path of cooperation and reconciliation," he said. Steinmeier stressed that "we jointly stand behind the double approach that the international community has so far taken, of offering Iran incentives to give up enrichment, but also demanding that it comply with the international community's demands." Steinmeier read out a brief statement in the presence of his fellow ministers. The group then left without taking questions. China: Nuclear standoff with Iran is at a 'critical' stage China said Tuesday that Iran's nuclear standoff with the West was at a critical stage and it hoped for an objective exchange of opinion in talks later in the day in Berlin. "We believe the Iran nuclear issue is at a critical moment," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a news conference. "China hopes the international community including Iran will make joint efforts for the resumption of talks so the issue can be resolved properly and comprehensively." China has traditionally opposed sanctions and advocated more negotiations, and efforts to persuade it to be more forceful have been undercut by the release of a U.S. intelligence report that said Iran halted its nuclear weapons program in 2003. Beijing would also be loath to risk its economic interests in Iran, which was its third-biggest source of crude oil imports last year. Iran said on Tuesday any new international sanctions against it would not succeed in forcing the country to halt its nuclear program. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for civilian energy use, but Western powers accuse it of seeking to build an atomic bomb. "The Iranian nation moves in the framework of its legitimate and legal rights ... and a possible ratification of a new [UN sanctions] resolution will not have an impact on our nation's behavior," government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham told a news conference. Related articles: Top German officials slam Austrian trade ties with Iran Bush, in Israel: Iran poses threat to world peace FM heads to Moscow for talks on Iran, Middle East peace talks Bookmark to del.icio.us   L.A.-bound The Israeli film "Beaufort" has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Foreign Film. Virtual trees The JNF takes tree-planting online for Tu B'Shvat during the shmita year.   1.   Sanctions give the illusion of action 11:15  |  Natallie Durson 22/01/08   2.   The screaming farce of Berlin 12:00  |  Jonathan S 22/01/08   3.   the american report explains everything 12:06  |  mehmet 22/01/08   4.   No. 2 13:48  |  Sakura One 22/01/08   5.   To Mehmet # 3 14:46  |  dovale 22/01/08   6.   Iran is never the world problem 14:49  |  Dav 22/01/08   7.   murder most horrid 17:43  |  Machiavelli Spinoza 22/01/08   8.   China: Nuclear standoff with Iran is at a `critical` stage 17:46  |  MR CARLOS J PEREZ 22/01/08   9.   Sanctions are humiliating 18:05  |  Edith 22/01/08   10.   mehmet and everyone else regarding Iran 19:24  |  Espart 22/01/08   11.   The nuclear issue is overstated 19:58  |  Martijn Levi 22/01/08   12.   mehmet - Typical Turkish intellectual 20:12  |  David Israel 22/01/08   13.   Russia setting the scene to get rid of Iran 20:17  |  Karl 22/01/08   14.   Espart, Hezbollah and Hamas are no "independent movements" 20:40  |  JJ 22/01/08   15.   The 108 countries of the Non Aligned Movement(NAM) have endorsed 22:27  |  lakshmi 22/01/08   16.   Speak Loudly, and Carry a Little Stick 22:44  |  DoubleClick 22/01/08   17.   response to Jonathan S 00:43  |  Linni Abramowitz 23/01/08

Today Online Gaza power restored after Israel delivers fuel, gas to the Strip Responses: 234 U.S. immigrant beaten up in 'pogrom' by ultra-Orthodox gang Responses: 127 Palestinian officials: 40% of Gazans lack running water Responses: 86 Israel fears int'l push to hand over Gaza borders to PA control Responses: 69 UN: Despite Israel's promises, West Bank barriers increase Responses: 71 Rosner's Domain The Bible not written to be amended. The Constitution was (WTR) Domain's Guest: "all Jews are responsible for one another" Rosner's Mailbox: Huckabee the candidate who would not sell Israel out Why Republican candidate Mike Huckabee worries Jewish voters Meadow Soprano is more proud of Israel than the US (WTR) More Headlines 23:19 PA court sentences killers of two Israelis to 15 years 00:55 Security Council permanent members vote for more sanctions on Iran 01:07 Hamas says gunman killed in clash with IDF troops in Gaza 23:14 Israel unveils plans for missile to counter Hezbollah missiles 20:34 Israeli film Beaufort nominated for Oscar for Best Foreign Film 23:03 Munich says carnival parade on Holocaust Day is unstoppable 22:35 Shas escalates threat to quit Olmert gov't over Jerusalem talks 21:21 Israeli, Palestinian envoys trade blame at the UN over Gaza 22:59 High Court suggests compromise on buses segregating men, women 18:55 Israeli Arabs protest Gaza crisis; rightists stage counter-protest 23:05 Popular Israeli drama remade by HBO for American audience 23:15 Bolton: Chance Bush will okay strike on Iran is 'close to zero' Previous Editions Select Day 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! Teach & Study Program make a difference in Israel FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved