Iran dismisses UN nuclear sanctions

President Barack Obama makes a statement about Iran in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington. (AP)
12 April 2012

The US and its allies have pushed through new UN sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme, punishments which Tehran dismissed as "annoying flies, like a used tissue."

The sanctions target Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles and nuclear-related investments.

Oil exports, the lifeblood of Iran's economy, are not affected because targeting them would have cost the US essential support from Russia and China.

President Barack Obama said the sanctions are the toughest Iran has ever faced. They required several months of difficult negotiations by the five veto-wielding permanent UN Security Council members - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - and non-member Germany. This is the fourth round of sanctions aimed at getting Iran into serious discussions on its nuclear ambitions.

"Actions do have consequences, and today the Iranian government will face some of those consequences," Mr Obama said. He left the door open to diplomacy but said Iran "will find itself more isolated, less prosperous and less secure" unless it meets its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on an official visit in Tajikistan, dismissed the new resolution. "From right and from left, they adopt sanctions, but for us they are annoying flies, like a used tissue," he said.

Tehran insists its programme is peaceful and aimed at producing nuclear energy. The US and its allies say Iran is trying to produce nuclear weapons; they want Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and start negotiations aimed at ensuring that it uses nuclear technology only for peaceful purposes.

The new resolution bans Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," bars Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining and prohibits Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles. Iran, however, already has most of what it would need to make a weapon.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, warned that "choosing the option of confrontation will bring Iran's resolute response," according to Iran's official news agency. He did not elaborate.

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