UN impose fresh sanctions on Iran

The UN Security Council has voted unanimously to impose new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear ambitions.

The new measures, which will target Tehran's arms exports, state-owned bank and elite Revolutionary Guards, are a follow-up to a resolution adopted December 23.

This called for the banning of trade in sensitive nuclear materials and ballistic missiles, as well as freezing assets of individuals and institutions associated with atomic programs.

But Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki immediately rejected the council's demand to suspend uranium enrichment, maintaining Iran's program was for peaceful purposes.

Addressing the council after the vote, Mottaki said the 15-member body had been manipulated by some of its members to take "unjustifiable action" against Iran's nuclear program.

He said: "I can assure you that pressure and intimidation will not change Iranian policy. Suspension is neither an option nor a solution."

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had wanted to speak to the council but canceled his appearance because visas for his flight crew were delivered too late for his plane to arrive in New York before the vote. Washington disputes this.

Both Iran and the big powers offered further talks, although the sanctions would remain in place until Iran halted enrichment.

British Ambassador Emyr Jones Parry said on behalf of his own country, the United States, France, Russia, China and Germany: "We propose further talks with the Islamic Republic of Iran to see if a mutually acceptable way can be found to open negotiations."

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