Broad agreement reached on Iran bans: US, Russia

United Nations, Mar 15: The United States and Russia said that major powers had reached a broad agreement on sanctions against Iran for its nuclear program and were submitting a text to their governments for approval.

The goal is to distribute a draft resolution to the 10 rotating members of the 15-nation UN Security Council today, who could vote on it next week.

''We have an agreement in principle based on some additional changes that were introduced and presented today by some delegations,'' Alejandro Wolff, a US ambassador told reporters.

''So it's new elements and understandings that need confirmation from capitals,'' he said. ''But it is a package approach if approved by capitals would essentially be the way forward in a resolution.'' Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the text ''by and large'' had been agreed.

''On some of the elements some delegations are still double checking with capitals,'' he said. If they come back with some problems of course we are going to have problems as well.'' ''As far as we're concerned we're tentatively ... pleased with the outcome,'' Churkin said.

The measure, which includes an embargo on weapons Iran could export, would penalize Tehran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, which Western nations suspect Tehran is mastering so it can produce atom bombs.

In addition to the United States and Russia, negotiators on the resolution are Britain, France, China and Germany.

Reuters >