Iran unimpressed by new UN resolution, sanction threats

Iran said on Wednesday it was unimpressed by planned new UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear programme, and said it would remain patient.

“We will wait as, like before, they (the world powers) will not gain anything with a new resolution and there are definitely some wise people among them who will prevent this (renewed sanctions),” atomic chief Ali—Akbar Salehi was quoted by the news network Khabar as saying.

“The issue of sanctions has lost its colour and is a futile effort, just discrediting internationally acknowledged regulations,” Mr. Salehi said after a cabinet session in Tehran.

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said on Tuesday that the Security Council, including Iran allies China and Russia, had reached an agreement “on a strong draft” resolution on the sanctions.

The draft resolution came after weeks of negotiations among the five permanent, veto—wielding members of the Security Council.

They explored ways to pressure Iran to disclose the full range of its nuclear activities and to halt uranium enrichment at 20 per cent.