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Last update - 09:09 23/01/2008 World powers agree to new sanctions on Iran over nuclear program By Yossi Melman, Haaretz Correspondent cially in Iran, as signaling international acquiescence to Iran's uranium enrichment program, which it has refused to halt despite the Security Council's repeated demands. Advertisement Iran claims that this program is strictly for civilian purposes, but enrichment is also a key element of any nuclear weapons program. The proposal finalized by the U.S., British, French, Russian, Chinese and German foreign ministers will now be submitted to the full Security Council for approval. Should the council endorse it, this will be the third round of international sanctions against Iran. A French diplomat involved in the talks said that the resolution is slated to be brought to a vote in the Security Council before the end of the month. However, other diplomats stationed at the UN were less optimistic, saying it is still not clear that Russia and China have dropped their fundamental opposition to further sanctions, and therefore, the vote might be delayed. Since the foreign ministers decided not to publish the contents of their decision, the details of the proposed sanctions remain unclear. However, the main components will apparently be additional travel restrictions on Iranian officials involved in the country's nuclear and missile programs, and additional freezes of assets, such as bank accounts, belonging to such officials or to companies and organizations involved in these programs. Both previous sanction rounds "blacklisted" specific individuals and organizations in this fashion, and the current round apparently expands the blacklist. U.S. Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who attended the talks, said that Washington was very pleased with the decision, because it expands the sanctions and proves that the six nations remain united. While Washington has sought tougher sanctions than were ultimately agreed on in all three rounds, it attaches paramount importance to showing that the international community is united on this issue, and has therefore consistently been willing to accept watered-down resolutions. The fact that even Russia and China, Tehran's traditional protectors on the Security Council, approved the new round of sanctions attests to the level of international unease about Iran's intentions. Even the NIE acknowledged that Tehran's ongoing enrichment program, along with its continuing efforts to purchase nuclear components overseas, indicates that it has not given up its quest for nuclear weapons. Israel and the U.S. will begin the latest installment Wednesday of their strategic dialogue, which will be devoted entirely to efforts to thwart Iran's nuclear program. At the talks, headed by Burns and Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, Israel will submit proposals for additional sanctions against Iran, both within and outside the Security Council. Next month, the International Atomic Energy Agency's board will hear a new report on Iran's nuclear program by IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei. The report is expected to shed additional light on the program's history, which in turn could clarify how quickly Iran is advancing. It will also focus on how well Iran has cooperated in answering the agency's questions about its nuclear program. Israeli intelligence agencies believe that the program is not as far along as Tehran's public statements would indicate, and that Iran is having trouble operating enough centrifuges to enrich sufficient fissionable material for a bomb. Nevertheless, the agencies believe that Iran will overcome this technical hurdle by next year or the year after at the latest. Shlomo Shamir and Barak Ravid contributed to this report. Related articles: Top German officials slam Austrian trade ties with Iran News / Ahmadinejad: Missile tested by IDF won't save Israel from collapse FM heads to Moscow for talks on Iran, Middle East peace talks Bookmark to del.icio.us   Strip Solidarity More than 1,000 march against the blockade on the Israeli side of the Gaza border. PFLP founder dead George Habash, founder of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, dies at 81.   1.   Symbolic and of course plain old BS. 01:04  |  common sense 23/01/08   2.   Symbols don`t stop nuclear mushrooms 01:22  |  Fortuna Benmayor 23/01/08   3.   Why the International Community is worried 01:52  |  Avi 23/01/08   4.   With all these sanctions........ 01:57  |  Deborah 23/01/08   5.   Any pressure on Iran is good, but more is needed 02:08  |  Conroy 23/01/08   6.   More BS 02:15  |  Frank 23/01/08   7.   read more 05:59  |  Abdul 23/01/08   8.   Any UN decision and statement that does not condemn the Hamas 06:14  |  Petra 23/01/08   9.   MOSLEMS do not controll Security Council.Yet! Belgium Holland 06:33  |  PETER SM 23/01/08   10.   UN Security Sanctions On Iran? 06:52  |  ron helton 23/01/08   11.   sanctions 07:01  |  ron helton 23/01/08   12.   Pushing Iran into Chinas orbit 08:55  |  Natallie Durson 23/01/08   13.   who is the world? what security? what council? 09:28  |  miria 23/01/08   14.   New sanctions 12:17  |  Mike 23/01/08   15.   UN 16:03  |  BB 23/01/08   16.   possiblities/probabilties/maybes, etc. 18:07  |  bozhidar balkas 23/01/08   17.   What a joke! 20:59  |  Yari 26/01/08

Today Online Hamas offers to restore Gaza Border via talks with Cairo Responses: 644 Militants who raided yeshiva were recently released criminals Responses: 248 Editorial: The siege of Gaza has failed Responses: 300 U.S. pushes UN to condemn Qassam rocket fire for first time Responses: 322 Richard Silverstein: Seeking liberal Jewish bloggers Responses: 104 Rosner's Domain McCain using support for Israel to court Jews - and Christians Ambassador vs. Ambassador: Is Obama good for Israel? Huckabee: WMD from Iraq is in Jordan (WTR) Poll: How important is Israel in the 2008 election? Factor: Clinton and McCain, head to head More Headlines 23:01 Israel demands that Egypt restore order at Gaza-Egypt border 21:52 Abbas: No talks with Hamas despite Gaza border chaos 17:03 Palestinian stabs Border Policeman in north Jerusalem attack 17:58 Israeli duo of Ram, Erlich win Australian Open doubles title 20:00 Libya withholds support for UN draft condemning Qassam fire 17:01 In remembrance of Holocaust, UN chief Ban says 'never again' 22:28 Palestinians: PFLP founder George Habash, 81, dies of heart attack 21:33 Umm al-Fahm turns out lights, Israelis march against Gaza blockade 20:28 Peres to Turkish FM: Israel targets only Gaza terrorists, not civilians 13:04 Abbas to press Olmert on lifting Gaza blockade, control of crossings 14:09 Report: Barak says Iran nuke program more advanced than thought 21:42 Tensions mount as Lebanese mourn slain intelligence officer Previous Editions Select Day 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan

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