The Security Council put the finishing touches Friday to a draft resolution imposing a third set of UN sanctions on Iran over its nuclear defiance with a vote rescheduled to Monday, AFP reported.

“The Iran resolution will be put to a vote in the Security Council on Monday at 11 a.m. (1600 GMT),” said a Western diplomat close to the council deliberations.

Another diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, spoke of progress in last-minute haggling over the text with countries having reservations about the sanctions.

He said the delay in the vote, which had been expected Saturday, was so sponsors “can get as broad support as possible.”
The draft puts Tehran on notice that it must comply with earlier Security Council demands to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities.

The West fears the knowhow gained from such activities could give Iran the capability to build nuclear weapons.

Adoption of the text is a foregone conclusion as it has already been agreed by the five veto-wielding members of the council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States.
And the sponsors have enough support among the 10 non-permanent members to ensure passage, which requires nine votes and no veto.

Thursday, Britain’s UN Ambassador John Sawers said the co-sponsors were prepared “to go the extra mile … to get as much support as possible” for the draft.

Attached to the draft is an annex listing additional names of Iranian officials and entities subject to travel and financial sanctions.