As world powers are preparing for a third round of sanctions on Iran, reformists inside Iran are gearing their forces to make a comeback to the political scene Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki urged the UN Security Council Saturday to wait for a report from its nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), before taking a decision on a proposed new sanctions resolution. Ministers of the Security Council's five permanent members -- the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain -- as well as Germany agreed on the draft text of a new resolution last week in Berlin. The draft, a watered down from what Washington wanted because of Chinese and Russian resistance, has been circulated to the 15-member Council. A senior French diplomat admitted that some non- permanent members are stalling. Pierre Vimont, France's ambassador to the United States, said several members wanted to give the IAEA more time to negotiate with Iran before taking further punitive action. Mottaki said a new resolution "will not affect Iran's determination to pursue its rights in using nuclear energy." Mottaki added that the IAEA's report would confirm that there has not been any deviation in Iran's nuclear programme towards weapons development. "If the IAEA reports that Iran has not deviated in the past, the Security Council should be brave enough to make amends and cancel the two resolutions, and allow the IAEA to supervise our work, like for all member states." The IAEA is expected to deliver its report at the end of February -- or early March -- after talks with Iran on its nuclear programme. IAEA Director- General Mohamed El-Baradei said Sunday, following talks with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, that the UN nuclear watchdog was making "good progress" in addressing outstanding issues concerning Iran's nuclear file. The IAEA chief reiterated the importance of holding multilateral negotiations between Iran and the international community in order to dispel the fears of Western countries concerning Iran's nuclear activities. In contrast, the proposed UN Security Council resolution advocates new punitive measures, including a travel ban on officials involved in Iran's nuclear and military programmes and inspections of shipments to and from Iran on suspicion of the trafficking of prohibited materials. The proposal also "calls upon states to exercise vigilance over the activities of financial institutions... with all banks domiciled in Iran," and in particular two large Iranian banks, Bank Melli and Bank Saderat. Dealings with Iran's Bank Sepah were banned last year in the second round of UN sanctions. Meanwhile, in Iran reformists are facing a challenge that may hinder their plans to make a comeback on the political scene through the upcoming 14 March parliamentary elections. Iran's conservative vetting body -- the Guardians Council -- has disqualified nearly a third of would-be candidates, including half of the reformist current's hopefuls. The Iranian Nobel Laureate, Shirin Ebadi, believes elections cannot be free while candidates have to be approved by the government's vetting body. "In previous elections we saw that many people were not approved to take part because they had criticised the government," Ebadi said. A few months ago reformists formed a coalition to contest the elections. Inspired by former president Mohamed Khatami, the coalition is made up of 21 pro-reform groups, including the Islamic Iran Participation Front (IIPF) and the Islamic Revolution Mojahideen Organisation (IMRO). The coalition also includes the Executives of Construction Party, founded by former President Hashemi Rafsanjani's cabinet ministers and allies. Iran's former presidents along with former parliamentary speaker Mehdi Karroubi say they will appeal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to allow the banned reformists to stand in the March polls. "Each of us will start consultations with all concerned bodies and officials... so that it becomes possible for the moderate figures to run," Karroubi said. In the parliamentary elections of 2004, the Guardians Council, which is dominated by conservatives, banned thousands of moderate candidates. Conservatives went on to win control of parliament. Several reformist leaders, including former first vice-president Mohamed Reza Aref -- a candidate in Tehran -- have warned of the possible "withdrawal of reformists from the elections" unless banned candidates are approved. The Guardians Council will unveil a final list of candidates 4 March. The three clerics' initiative of setting up a campaign to bring reformist hopefuls back onto to electoral list is a rare move -- especially the call for Khamenei's intervention. Abdullah Naseri, speaker of the reformist coalition, said the senior clerics would meet with Khamenei. "It was agreed that each of them follow up on this indefensible issue in talks with the supreme leader," Naseri said on the coalition's official website. As the Islamic Republic's supreme leader, Khamenei has the final say on all state matters and plays the role of arbiter in settling differences. Reformists are banking on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's much-criticised handling of domestic policy securing them gains in parliament. Two years into his presidency, the Iranian economy is in deep crisis with the poor bearing the brunt of Ahmadinejad's economic policies.
