The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, United Nations

The Security Council on Monday begins to review a package of marginally tougher UN sanctions to pressure Iran into ending its nuclear defiance and its growing isolation.

The package, unveiled Friday, was agreed by foreign ministers of the five veto-wielding permanent members of the Security Council -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany in Berlin Tuesday. It includes an outright ban on travel by officials involved in the Islamic Republic's nuclear and missile programs and mandates all states "to prevent the entry or transit through their territories" of individuals linked with Iran's nuclear and missile programs. An earlier resolution approved by the Security Council last March had made the ban voluntary.

The package agreed in Berlin also include a call on all states to "inspect cargoes to and from Iran t provided there are reasonable grounds to believe that the aircraft/vessel is transporting goods prohibited under this resolution." It is to form the basis of a third set of economic and trade sanctions against Iran for defying Security Council demands to stop uranium enrichment activities that the West fears could be used to make a nuclear bomb.

"It is a strong text which shows the continuity of the approach of the international community," France's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert said in a statement. "We are sending a very clear message to Iran and we are stepping up the pressure."