France: Iran facing U.N. sanctions

France: Iran facing U.N. sanctions


POSTED: 5:30 a.m. EST, December 6, 2006
var clickExpire = "01/5/2007";
Story Highlights• NEW: Iran will face U.N. Security Council sanctions, French minister says • Major powers divided on exactly how far punishment should go• At talks in Paris, France and five other major powers failed to reach an accord
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PARIS, France (AP) -- Iran will face U.N. Security Council sanctions for refusing to halt its nuclear program, France's foreign minister said Wednesday, but major powers are still divided on exactly how far punishment should go.
"The question is about the scope of sanctions but there will be sanctions," Philippe Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio.
The measures would fall under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter, Douste-Blazy added. The article authorizes the Security Council to impose nonmilitary sanctions such as completely or partially severing diplomatic and economic relations, transportation and communications links.
A day earlier, at closed-door talks in Paris, France and five other major powers failed to reach an accord on a U.N. resolution to punish Iran, although the French Foreign Ministry said there was "substantive progress" and that "we are now close to a conclusion of this process."
A senior European diplomat said the five permanent Security Council members, which include France, plus Germany remained split over key questions of visa bans and asset freezes for Iranians linked to nuclear development.
Douste-Blazy, however, played down differences, saying the talks confirmed major powers' desire to act in concert. "We agreed on one thing: There will be a resolution at the U.N. Security Council in a unified manner, including China and Russia," he said.
After months of diplomatic wrangling, the United States and France had hoped the talks would produce a resolution to impose sanctions on Iran for defying U.N. demands to stop uranium enrichment. The process can produce material for atomic warheads as well as electricity.
Russia is resisting wide-ranging sanctions, but was said to have made some concessions. The Russians agreed to a measure prohibiting financial transfers to "problematic" Iranians linked to nuclear or ballistic programs, a European diplomat said, on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
Russia still opposes the broader asset freeze that the European players -- Britain, France and Germany -- proposed in a draft U.N. resolution presented in October, the diplomat said.
And the question of travel bans for those involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs remains "blocked," he said. The Europeans and Americans support the bans; Russia opposes them.
The Security Council has been at odds over how to deal with Iran's defiance of an Aug. 31 U.N. deadline to halt uranium enrichment. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking nuclear bombs, while Tehran insists it only wants nuclear energy.
The Europeans and Americans want tough sanctions; Russia and China have pushed for dialogue, despite the failure of an EU effort to bring the Iranians to the negotiating table.
Currently, all are working off the European draft resolution and Russia's suggested amendments to it.
The resolution would order all countries to ban the supply of materials and technology that could contribute to Iran's nuclear and missile programs. Russia has said its supports such measures. It also imposes a travel ban and asset freeze on people and companies involved in those programs -- both measures Russia wants deleted.
The Russians also remain resistant to a measure expanding the powers of the International Atomic Energy Agency to monitor Iran's nuclear program, considering that a "provocation" to Iran, the diplomat said.
The draft resolution would exempt a nuclear power plant being built by the Russians at Bushehr in Iran, but not the nuclear fuel needed for the reactor. Russia wants to remove any mention of Bushehr.
The discussions now move to the U.N. in New York. The Americans and Europeans are pushing for a resolution by the end of the year.