Iran said it would end diplomatic efforts over its nuclear program after the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday imposed a fourth round of sanctions to persuade Tehran to stop enriching uranium.
The resolution passed the 15-nation council with 12 votes in favor. Brazil and Turkey voted against and Lebanon abstained.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the Security Council had stood up to the "grave threat" posed by the Iranian nuclear program.
The new measures include an embargo on selling several types of heavy conventional weapons to Iran, but they largely build on existing sanctions, some which were imposed as early as 2006.
Iran has since then defied the Security Council, advancing its enrichment to 20% while building new centrifuges used in the process. Uranium must be enriched to 90% to produce fuel for a nuclear weapon, which the West, as well as Russia and China, fear Tehran is pursing.
WSJ
The resolution passed the 15-nation council with 12 votes in favor. Brazil and Turkey voted against and Lebanon abstained.
U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said the Security Council had stood up to the "grave threat" posed by the Iranian nuclear program.
The new measures include an embargo on selling several types of heavy conventional weapons to Iran, but they largely build on existing sanctions, some which were imposed as early as 2006.
Iran has since then defied the Security Council, advancing its enrichment to 20% while building new centrifuges used in the process. Uranium must be enriched to 90% to produce fuel for a nuclear weapon, which the West, as well as Russia and China, fear Tehran is pursing.
WSJ
