United Nations, March 24
The U.N. Security Council unanimously approved new arms and financial sanctions against Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment on Saturday. The package of sanctions, aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program, targets the country's arms exports, its state-owned Bank Sepah and the elite Revolutionary Guards.

The 15-member body would suspend the sanctions if Iran halted enrichment. The new measures are a follow-up to a resolution adopted on December 23 banning trade in sensitive nuclear materials and ballistic missiles, as well as freezing assets of individuals and institutions associated with atomic programs.

During the day-long consultations, the five permanent veto wielding members of the council — the USA Britain, Russia, France and China — managed to resolve the concerns of the remaining 10 elected non-permanent members though they did not agree to any of the amendments proposed by South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar.

Late last evening, western diplomats said they expect a unanimous vote which would send a strong message to Iran that the international community is united that Teheran must abandon its uranium enrichment programme.

During the day-long discussions yesterday, the sponsors had to deal with the demand from Indonesia and Qatar that the resolution call for making Middle East a zone free of weapons of mass destruction. — Reuters