Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., February 23, 2008 Adar1 17, 5768 | | Israel Time: 01:26 (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

U.K., Germany, France revise Iran sanctions draft By Reuters Britain, France and Germany have revised a sanctions resolution against Iran over its nuclear program and diplomats said yesterday 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. Advertisement "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. 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. 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 today. 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. 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. 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. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Auschwitz gimmick U.K. Tory chief draws fire for calling school visits to Auschwitz a gimmick. 5 Stops in Galilee Rock hares, peach orchards, a taste of the past, and walking the Jesus trail.

Today Online Bradley Burston: This November, I'm voting christian Responses: 100 Iron Dome system found to be helpless against Qassams Responses: 216 Nasrallah: We're readying for war with Israel within months Responses: 304 U.S. to announce new aid plan for West Bank, Gaza Strip Responses: 161 Daniel Levy: Obama's change could be good for Israel Responses: 109 McCain, a supporter of Israel with a 'Judeophile' brother Responses: 131 More Headlines 21:59 Sderot mayor denies calling for cease-fire talks with Hamas 20:09 Three Palestinians killed in IAF strike on northern Gaza 01:26 Skinhead-turned-Haredi embodies Poland's renewed Jewish life 21:59 Foreign Ministry: IAEA report proves Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons 00:41 Turkish army kills 79 PKK rebels in Iraq as offensive widens 22:09 Abducted IDF soldier's brother: We're afraid he'll be next Ron Arad 15:32 U.K. Jews irked by Tory chief's 'gimmick' reference to Auchwitz trips 14:22 Ramon calls for evacuation of settlers east of security fence 20:47 Settlers attack left-wing activists escorting W. Bank shepherds 18:31 Barak to hold consultations Sunday on proposed Egypt border fence 11:26 Arab states threaten to rescind 2002 Saudi peace initiative 12:18 IDF arrests senior PFLP operative in Nablus refugee camp Previous Editions Select Day 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb 11 feb 10 feb

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