Global General

Iran dismisses UN sanctions as 'flies'

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-06-10 13:48

UNITED NATIONS - The US and its allies scored a long-sought victory Wednesday by pushing through new UN sanctions over Iran's nuclear program, punishments Tehran dismissed as "annoying flies, like a used tissue."

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President Barack Obama said the sanctions are the toughest Iran has ever faced. They required several months of difficult negotiations by the five veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council members -- the US, Russia, China, Britain and France -- and non-member Germany. This is the fourth round of sanctions aimed at getting Iran into serious discussions on its nuclear ambitions.

"Actions do have consequences, and today the Iranian government will face some of those consequences," Obama said. He left the door open to diplomacy but said Iran "will find itself more isolated, less prosperous and less secure" unless it meets its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on an official visit in Tajikistan, dismissed the new resolution.

"From right and from left, they adopt sanctions, but for us they are annoying flies, like a used tissue," he said.

US Ambassador to the UN Susan Rice votes to impose sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program during a meeting of the UN Security Council at the UN Headquarters in New York June 9, 2010. [Agencies]

Tehran insists its program is peaceful and aimed at producing nuclear energy. The US and its allies say Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons; they want Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations aimed at ensuring that it uses nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes.

The new resolution bans Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bars Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining and prohibits Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles. Iran, however, already has most of what it would need to make a weapon.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, warned that "choosing the option of confrontation will bring Iran's resolute response," according to Iran's official news agency. He did not elaborate.

Iran's UN Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee accused the United States, Britain and their allies of abusing the Security Council to attack Iran.

"No amount of pressure and mischief will be able to break our nation's determination to pursue and defend its legal and inalienable rights," Khazaee said. "Iran is one of the most powerful and stable countries in the region and never bowed -- and will never bow -- to the hostile actions and pressures by these few powers and will continue to defend its rights."

US Ambassador Susan Rice dismissed Khazaee's statement as "ridiculous ... reprehensible, offensive, and inaccurate" and declared that "these sanctions are as tough as they are smart and precise."

The resolution was approved by a vote of 12-2 with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey voting "no." Turkey and Brazil, both non-permanent council members, brokered a fuel-swap agreement with Iran that they offered as an alternative solution to concerns Tehran may be enriching uranium for nuclear weapons.

Lebanon's UN Ambassador Nawaf Salam said he abstained because the government failed to "reach a final position." A UN diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the government debate was private, said the Cabinet was split, 14-14, on whether to vote no or abstain.

The Security Council imposed limited sanctions in December 2006 and has been ratcheting them up in hopes of pressuring Iran to suspend enrichment and start negotiations on its nuclear program. Iran has repeatedly defied the demand and has stepped up its activities, enriching uranium to 20 percent and announcing plans to build new nuclear facilities.