[EN-SEA] Report : US Softens Iran Sanction Plan To Win Support

THE United States has stepped back from a series of harsh measures against Iran and softened proposed UN sanctions to win the backing of China and Russia, reports the Wall Street Journal.

The newspaper said earlier proposals that would have effectively closed international airspace and waters to Iranian state-owned air cargo and shipping lines had been scrapped.

The first American proposals reportedly sought to ban Iran Air and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines ships from entering international sea and airspace and would have prevented the purchase or sale of Iranian government bonds.

It would also have prevented "the provision of insurance services to Iranian companies for international transport-related contracts," the Journal said.

Instead, the new resolution proposes to enforce existing sanctions on cargo shipments, urges the country to take additional steps to bar insurance provision and call for "vigilance" in transactions involving Iran.

The United States had hoped to get a new round of UN sanctions passed in April, the newspaper said, but difficulty securing support could push the effort back into the summer.

While Washington suspects that Iran is trying to develop atomic weapons; the government in Tehran insists its nuclear programme is designed to meet its domestic energy needs.

The US is working to develop consensus among the five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council on sanctions punishing Tehran for its nuclear programme.

But while the US, UK and France agree on tough measures, Russia and particularly China have been more reluctant to approve of sanctions

Source : HKSG, 03.04.10.