A new round of sanctions

A new round of sanctions

The United States and its allies have agreed upon the wording for a new round of United Nations sanctions against Iran.

They are pushing for a vote in the UN Security Council as soon as Wednesday, but efforts could stall over new demands by Brazil and Turkey, as well as the list of individuals and companies who will be the subjects of an asset freeze and travel ban.

On Tuesday morning, Security Council ambassadors will meet behind closed doors in New York after a request by Brazil and Turkey, who want an open debate on the draft resolution before it is put to a vote. 

Brazil and Turkey have been sitting out negotiations in protest, ever since the West refused to endorse the fuel swap deal they negotiated last month with Iran.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Turkish Prime Minster Recep Tayyip Erdogan have said the agreement, while not addressing all of the international community’s concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme, makes moving forward with sanctions unnecessary.

According to diplomatic sources, the permanent five members of the Council (the US, the UK, France, Russia and China), plus Germany, are also in agreement over the list - referred to in an annexe to the resolution - which names individuals and companies for sanctions.

They are waiting for feedback from the council's 10 other members before putting it “in blue” - or initiating the formal process for scheduling the vote, which takes 24 hours.

The resolution would expand an existing arms embargo, and tighten restrictions on Iran’s financial and shipping industries. Western diplomats are confident the draft has enough votes to pass but would like the Security Council to appear as unified as possible.