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Last update - 21:28 21/02/2008 Britain, France, Germany revise Iran sanctions draft By Reuters Tags: Security Council, Iran  Britain, France and Germany have revised a sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program and diplomats said on Thursday they hoped the United Nations Security Council would vote on the draft next week. The new resolution was virtually unchanged from an earlier draft about which several council members said they had serious concerns. "The new draft will be introduced to the full council this afternoon and we hope it will be put to a vote by the end of next week," a diplomat from a Security Council member state told reporters on condition of anonymity. Advertisement The draft resolution calls for asset freezes and mandatory travel bans for specific Iranian officials and vigilance on all banks in Iran. It also expands the list of Iranian officials and companies targeted by the sanctions and repeats the council's demand that Iran halt nuclear enrichment activity, which the West fears is aimed at producing uranium fuel for atomic weapons. Diplomats said the text has the backing of all five permanent council members - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - and co-drafter Germany, which is not on the council. These six countries have been spearheading the drive to persuade Iran to halt its enrichment program. The changes were minor language adjustments and did not affect the substance of the penalties spelled out in the five-page text. Diplomats from non-permanent council member states like South Africa, Indonesia and Libya have said they want any resolution voted on by the 15-nation Security Council to reflect a report on Iran from the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna expected to be released on Friday. Vienna-based diplomats say IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei is expected to say in the report that he has made significant progress in resolving outstanding questions related to Iran's past nuclear activities. Western countries say the IAEA's investigation of Iran's atomic past is important but has little relevance to the future of Tehran's atomic program, which they fear may one day be used to make nuclear weapons. They say Iran's refusal to comply with Security Council demands that it stop enriching uranium supports their suspicion that Tehran is seeking atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful and enrichment a sovereign right. The South Africans and other members of the Non-Aligned Movement say the IAEA's investigation is relevant and insisted that the council postpone the vote until it has the IAEA report. South Africa, Indonesia and Libya have also said they had serious reservations about the earlier draft and it was unclear if the new draft would satisfy their objections. South Africa had objected to a section urging states to inspect suspicious cargo to and from Iran transported by the firms Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Line. This section is unchanged from the earlier draft. Related articles: World powers agree to new sanctions on Iran over nuclear program Despite sanctions, Iran seeks UN Security Council seat Chronology of Iran's nuclear program Bookmark to del.icio.us   The black sheep The U.S. freezes Assad's cousin's assets for trying to weaken Iraq and Lebanon. Pristina, Ramallah Yasser Abed Rabbo called on the West Bank to declare independence like Kosovo.   1.   A mossad plot to slander the BFG 22:02  |  Allon 21/02/08   2.   Ahmad 22:29  |  yahooo 21/02/08   3.   Everyone marking time 23:12  |  Mark Lincoln 21/02/08   4.   pirates eyes on irans wealth/oil 00:38  |  tony 22/02/08

Today Online Report: U.K. gov't hid reference to Israel on Iraq weapons dossier Responses: 197 Israel fears Europe will break boycott of Hamas Responses: 264 Iranian official: Countdown to Israel's destruction has begun Responses: 181 Shmuel Rosner: What the U.S. really wants is a total Gaza invasion Responses: 85 Israel Harel: Israeli Arabs creating state within Israel's borders Responses: 74 Rosner's Domain What America wants from an operation in Gaza Obama has a mainstream Democratic team (WTR) Guests: girls receiving a Jewish education is a given U.S. victims of Palestinian terror await gov't stance on compensation Poll: Is it important to have an Israeli-Palestinian agreement by the end of 2008? More Headlines 03:15 Worried Rice to discuss Gaza with Olmert in Japan 03:19 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams 00:59 EU resolution lambastes Israel over Gaza Strip isolation policy 21:58 Rights group slams Egypt for shooting African migrants on Israel border 00:05 Monopoly Website drops country names after Jerusalem row 03:24 Al-Aqsa militants wanted by Israel escape from PA jail 02:16 EU advisers to PA police seek $221 million for training, prisons 03:11 Hamas officials: Israeli missile kills at least 2 Gaza militants 01:06 Russia offers to host, finance Israel 60 anniversary events in Moscow 01:15 Serb rioters set fire to U.S. Embassy in Belgrade, clash with police Previous Editions Select Day 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb 08 feb

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