Expectations in UN over Iran Sanctions

United Nations, Sep 9. -As the deadline expired Thursday for sanctions imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council, the issue appeared to be off the official agenda.

The Security Council agenda for Thursday includes items on Haiti and the election of a member of the International Court of Justice.

Also, a meeting will be held of the committee charged with enforcing Res. 1373, adopted on September 28, 2001 following the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York seven days earlier.

The Council adopted a fourth round of sanctions against Iran on June 9 for continuing with its nuclear development program, which Tehran says has peaceful aims. Those sanctions were approved by 12 votes in favor (USA, France, Britain, Russia, China, Mexico, Nigeria, Gabon, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Japan and Uganda), two against (Brazil, Turkey), and one abstention (Lebanon).

The agreement adopted three month ago fixed a 90-day term for the International Atomic Energy Agency to inform whether or not Iran had stopped its uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and nuclear research and development.

Three days ago, the international media reported that the agency's report was ready, and that it stated that in the last four months, Iran increased its production of uranium by 15 percent (up to 2.8 tons).

Some UN diplomatic circles said there are expectations over how the IAEA report will be analyzed by the Security Council to determine the steps to follow for implementing the sanctions approved three months ago. (Prensa Latina)