The UN Security Council has voted Wednesday in favour of fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme. Twelve countries reportedly voted for the sanctions with Lebanon abstaining and Turkey and Brazil voting against the resolution. The 15-member council adopted its fourth sanctions resolution on Iran in four years by a vote of 12-2. Brazil and Turkey voted against the resolution, citing concerns that the council had not exhausted diplomatic efforts to resolve its standoff with Iran. Lebanon abstained. The US has promoted the sanctions as the toughest Iran has yet faced. But Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier warned his country would not agree to further nuclear talks if the sanctions were imposed. The US and its allies fear Iran is secretly trying to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists its programme is aimed solely at peaceful energy use. The Security Council resolution was opposed by Turkey and Brazil, which had brokered a deal with Iran on uranium enrichment. Lebanon abstained. The new sanctions were passed after being watered down during negotiations with Russia and China on Tuesday. There are no crippling economic sanctions and there is no oil embargo. Those passed include prohibiting Iran from buying heavy weapons such as attack helicopters and missiles. They also toughen rules on financial transactions with Iranian banks and increase the number of Iranian individuals and companies that are targeted with asset freezes and travel bans.
