UNITED NATIONS - The United States and its Western allies Wednesday won crucial support from Russia and China for new sanctions against Iran over its suspect nuclear programme, but they now face a tough campaign to get backing from the rest of the UN Security Council. The draft resolution, obtained by the Associated Press, would ban Iran from pursuing "any activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons," freeze assets of nuclear-related companies linked to the Revolutionary Guard, bar Iranian investment in activities such as uranium mining, and prohibit Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles. It would also call on all countries to cooperate in cargo inspections ��" which must receive the consent of the ship's flag state ��" if there are "reasonable grounds" to believe these activities could contribute to Iranian nuclear activities. On the financial side, the draft calls on ��" but does not require ��" countries to block financial transactions, including insurance and reinsurance, and ban the licensing of Iranian banks if they have information that provides "reasonable grounds" to believe these activities could contribute to Iranian nuclear activities. The agreement appeared to be a significant victory for the Obama administration, which has doggedly pursued sanctions since Iran rebuffed US overtures last year. Iran has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes. Russia and China, which have close ties to Iran and could veto any resolution, joined fellow permanent council members Britain, France and the United States as well as non-member Germany in supporting the sanctions proposal. Both Russia and China resisted sanctions before they were persuaded to support the stepped up pressure on Iran in recent weeks. Proposed sanctions relating to Iran's oil and gas industry were removed due to opposition from the two countries, which have vast investments and interests in Iran's energy sector. Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin said the final draft is acceptable because it is "focused adequately on nonproliferation matters" and doesn't cause "humanitarian damage" or create problems for normal economic activities in Iran and the country's economic relations with other countries. US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton told a Senate committee that she spent Tuesday on the phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov "finalizing the resolution." The Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov "expressed anxiety" in his talk with Clinton about reports that the United States and European Union might undertake unilateral sanctions against Iran beyond measures agreed to by the Security Council. At least three of the 10 non-permanent Security Council members ��" Brazil, Turkey and Lebanon ��" have expressed opposition to new sanctions.
