US insists on imposing sanctions on Iran

Washington, Sep 6 (UNI) The Bush Administration expects that the United Nations' Security Council will live up to its agreement to impose sanctions on Iran after Tehran rejected the world body's August 31 deadline to halt its uranium enrichment programme.

China and Russia, both permanent members of the council, have opposed the idea of sanction, arguing that such a step may prove to be counter-productive.

State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack, however, said yesterday that the US anticipated "tough and intensive" diplomacy over the sanctions issue but it expected that ultimately the parties to the Security Council's Resolution 1696 will fall in line and support its terms. The Resolution had set the deadline for Iran.

McCormack said," the fact of the matter is that the P-5 (permanent members of the Security Council -- US, Britain, France, Russia and China) and Plus One (Germany) have an agreement. They made a deal. We would expect everybody, all members of that group, to live up to the agreement, as well as all members of the Security Council who made it very clear that if the Iranians do not comply with this, then we are headed down the pathway of greater isolation for the Iranian people, which is not something we desire." The Security Council approved the Resolution 1696 in July, giving Iran time until August 31st to suspend uranium enrichment programme and other sensitive activities and return to negotiations over its nuclear issue or face sanctions.

The deadline passed without compliance by Tehran. Iran, however, says it is willing to enter into negotiations without abandoning the enrichment programme.

The Chinese government yesterday favoured the idea of "further discussions" with Iran. Its Prime Minister Wen Jiabao called for a cautious approach on sanctions which, in his view, may turn out to be counter-productive.

Top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Igor Shuvalov, had expressed identical views on the issue.

Meanwhile, US Undersecretary of State Nicolas Burns will meet his counterparts from the P-5 Plus One group today in Berlin to discuss the new situation that had developed following Iran's noncompliance to stop uranium enrichment.

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will also discuss the issue with P-5 and Germany during UN General Assembly session later this month in New York.

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