World Powers Agree On Draft Resolution To Sanction Iran

By MELISSA EDDY Associated Press Writer

BERLIN (AP) – The U.N. Security Council’s permanent members and Germany agreed Tuesday on the contents of a new draft resolution on sanctions against Iran after talks on its nuclear program, the German foreign minister said.

A European diplomat and a U.S. official, both speaking of condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, said the draft resolution would moderately expand existing sanctions, but would not feature new economic sanctions.

“We agreed together today on the contents of such a resolution,” Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after meeting his counterparts from the U.S., France, Britain, Russia and China.

“Germany, France and Great Britain will submit a draft resolution to the Security Council.” The U.S. official referred specially to travel bans and asset freezes, but said the group agreed not to release the full text of the agreement until it had been distributed to the rest of the Security Council.

“This is a swift reminder to the Iranians that they are not in compliance,” the U.S. official said.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)