UNITED NATIONS, (Reuters):U.N. Security Council members worked on final changes yesterday to a resolution imposing new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, with calls for a nuclear-free zone in the Middle East the main stumbling point.
Major powers plan for a vote today, but delays are possible after Indonesia and Qatar insisted on language in the draft supporting a nuclear-free Middle East that the United States opposes, presumably because it appears aimed at its ally Israel.
Russia submitted an amendment that would recognise that a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue contributes to non-proliferation efforts, including those in the Middle East.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad plans to address the council in New York on the day of the vote to stress that his country's nuclear programme is for generating energy, not for producing atomic bombs as the West suspects.
Iran contended that the United States had not issued Ahmadinejad a visa but U.S. officials said this was not the case and that 39 visas for his entourage had been approved. Papers for the air crew were expected to be ready shortly.
Latest draft resolution
The latest draft resolution, obtained by Reuters, rejects nearly all of the amendments from South Africa that would have stripped the text of most provisions on weapons and financial bans.
But the negotiators provided an explanation, requested by South Africa and others, of why each name on a list of 28 Iranian individuals, companies and institutions should be subject to an assets freeze.
In response, South Africa's ambassador, Dumisani Kumalo, this month's council president, expressed dismay.
"They told us we would be negotiating a give and take," he told reporters on Thursday. "They are doing exactly what they said they weren't going to do."
U.S. deputy ambassador Alejandro Wolff said amendments had to be consistent with the "philosophy of this resolution," which was drafted by Germany and the five permanent council members with veto rights ? Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States.
