Carefully weighed data, history, and concerns over Iran's refusal to permit routine IAEA inspections; led to near unanimous support of a third round of sanctions, today...
"The five permanent council members with veto power—the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France—are all backing the new resolution, and they have more than the nine "yes" votes needed for approval in the 15-member council. Story.Finally, US slips away from being Iranian Regime's nuclear scapegoat. This remains an 'equally shared' concern of the community members.
Two council diplomats said Monday morning that Libya, South Africa and Vietnam signaled that they would approve the resolution. The diplomats spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. More.
The measures impose: Travel ban on several individuals linked to Iran's nuclear effort, freezing the assets of about a dozen companies and a dozen individuals with links to Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile programs.
Under the wire?More about the Vienna examinations:
Sanctions would also require countries to "exercise vigilance" and report the travel or transit of those individuals....
Weekend Tehran meetings with Venezuelan Envoy
It also calls on all countries "to exercise vigilance" in entering into new trade commitments with Iran, and authorizes inspections of shipments to and from Iran by sea and air that are suspected of carrying prohibited goods. Read more.
My South American friends are on alert...
Colombia Files Show Chavez Funded FARC| Rebels Sought Uranium
The Venezuelans and Colombians won't tolerate this! And will not allow terror associates in their country!
"Naranjo said the FARC, as the group is known, was seeking to buy 50 kilos of uranium for bomb making with aim of getting involved in international terrorism. Read more
Vienna meeting reignites Iran nuclear debate
Last Monday, the chief United Nations nuclear inspector gathered ambassadors and experts from dozens of nations in a boardroom high above the Danube in Vienna and laid out a trove of evidence that he said raised new questions about whether Iran had tried to design an atom bomb.
For more than two hours, representatives to the International Atomic Energy Agency were riveted by documents, sketches and even a video that appeared to have come from Iran's own military laboratories. The inspector said they showed work "not consistent with any application other than the development of a nuclear weapon," according to notes taken by diplomats. Story.
