By Xinhua
United Nations : France, Britain and Germany formally introduced to the UN Security Council Thursday a draft resolution that calls for further sanctions against Iran over its refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear enrichment activities.
The draft is based on the elements agreed last month by foreign ministers of the six nations — Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia and the United States, said Britain’s UN Ambassador John Sawers after attending a council meeting.
The text reflects the views of some council members, he said. “We are seeking further substantive comments from more delegations in the first half of next week, so we can take this forward expeditiously.”
Sawers said there are “further increments” on the two previous sanctions that have been adopted by the council.
He called on Tehran to suspend its nuclear activities and abide by the requests of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for full transparency so that a “very generous and full package of engagement and opportunities” can be negotiated by the six countries with Iran.
France’s UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said the text was slightly revised from the elements and that the three cosponsors want the council to adopt the resolution “as soon as possible, ideally next week.”
The proposed measures include travel restrictions and bans on some of its citizens and an expansion of frozen assets imposed under two previous UN Security Council resolutions.
The proposal, however, leaves the door open for the six countries to return to the negotiating table to discuss an offer of economic incentives they made to Iran in 2006.