Iran condemns UNSC sanctions resolution as 'worthless'

Foreign Ministry spokesman: "Resolution issued based on political motivations and a biased approach."

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Hosseini 224.88 (photo credit: AP)
Hosseini 224.88
(photo credit: AP)
Iran on Tuesday rejected a UN resolution imposing new sanctions for its refusal to halt uranium enrichment, calling it "worthless" and "politically-motivated." "This resolution is contrary to the spirit and articles of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has been issued based on political motivations and a biased approach. It is worthless and unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini said, according to the state news agency IRNA. The UN Security Council approved the sanctions Monday, the third round of sanctions it has imposed on Iran for rejecting UN demands for an enrichment suspension. For the first time, the resolution bans trade with Iran in goods which have both civilian and military uses and authorizes inspections of shipments to and from Iran by sea and air that are suspected of carrying banned items. The resolution introduces financial monitoring on two banks with suspected links to proliferation activities, Bank Melli and Bank Saderat. It calls on all countries "to exercise vigilance" in entering into new trade commitments with Iran. The resolution also orders countries to freeze the assets of 12 additional companies and 13 individuals with links to Iran's nuclear or ballistic missile programs - and require countries to report the travels of those Iranians. It bans travel by five individuals linked to Iran's nuclear effort. Most of the new individuals subject to sanctions are technical figures. But one, Brig. Gen. Mohammad Reza Naqdi, is prominent in the Revolutionary Guards, an elite military corps, and close to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.