UN Security Council slaps sanctions on Iran

The UN Security Council yesterday slapped sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme trageting the powerful Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles, and nuclear-related investments, despite opposition from Brazil and Turkey.

The UN Security Council yesterday slapped sanctions on Iran over its controversial nuclear programme trageting the powerful Revolutionary Guard, ballistic missiles, and nuclear-related investments, despite opposition from Brazil and Turkey.

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In the 15-member Council, 12 countries, including the US and Britain, voted in favour of the resolution with Lebanon abstaining and Brazil and Turkey voting against. The new resolution, which is fourth against Iran to be adopted by the UNSC, creates new categories of sanctions like banning Iran's investment in nuclear activity abroad, banning all ballistic missiles activities, blocking Iran's use of banks aboard and asset freezes for members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The resolution will blacklist entities that includes fifteen enterprises of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, three entities owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines and 23 industrial companies.

The international community accuses Iran of seeking to develop an atomic weapon.But, Tehran has been maintaining that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful civilian purposes.

India has been maintaining that it is opposed to such kinds of sanctions as it will affect the common people more than the establishment. Russia and China, which have previously raised objections against such sanctions, supported the resolution and said they were happy with the text of the resolution as long as it did not have any negative impact on the people.