US senators seek UN sanctions against Iran

WASHINGTON: A resolution introduced on Wednesday in the US Senate urged Iran to abandon its alleged nuclear weapons programme or face the threat of United Nations sanctions.

The measure introduced by senators Dianne Feinstein and Jon Kyl gives Tehran two weeks to cease its alleged efforts to produce nuclear weapons and to come into compliance under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty or face the risk of UN sanctions. The bill calls on the UN Security Council to consider the threat to international peace and security posed by Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons programme, and to imposed impose diplomatic and economic sanctions against Iran should it fail to live up to its obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency by October 31.

“The time has come for the international community to speak with one voice and urge Iran to abandon its attempts to acquire nuclear weapons,” Ms Feinstein, a California Democrat, said.

“With the fall of the (Saddam) Hussein regime in Iraq, attention has turned to the threat posed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the recent revelations about its nuclear program.

“By approving this resolution, Congress would ... pressure the Iranian government to live up to its commitments and, in particular, sign the additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to permit snap, short-notice inspections of Iran’s declared and undeclared nuclear facilities.”

Mr Kyl, a Republican from Arizona, added: “If the government of Iran has nothing to hide about its nuclear programs, then there is no need for further delay in complying with international weapons inspections.” —AFP

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