UN rejects changes in Iran n-sanctions

Britain, France and the United States made clear they would not agree to a 90-day “time out” on all sanctions against Iran that was proposed by South Africa, a suggestion the British ambassador called “totally perverse.”

Britain, France and the United States made clear they would not agree to a 90-day “time out” on all sanctions against Iran that was proposed by South Africa, a suggestion the British ambassador called “totally perverse.”

Acting US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff indicated Washington would also reject amendments by Indonesia and Qatar for West Asia to be free of weapons of mass destruction and the missiles to deliver them—because of their implications for Israel. It is believed to have developed nuclear weapons though the Israeli government has never officially acknowledged them.

The 15 members of the UN Security Council held their first negotiations late on Wednesday on the resolution drafted by six world powers to increase pressure on Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and amendments proposed by the non-permanent council members.

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France’s UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said “a large majority” of council members support the draft. The six countries who back it — the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany — will send common ideas for amendments to their capitals. The full council is scheduled to meet again to discuss the proposed changes.

South Africa proposed extensive amendments including a 90-day “time out” on all sanctions against Iran and the elimination of an embargo on arms exports and financial sanctions targeting Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards and an Iranian bank.

“…we are making the amendments in the spirit of adding value to the draft,” South Africa’s UN Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo said after the meeting.

Trump also spoke warmly of his relationship with PM Modi.

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