UNITED NATIONS, Dec 23: The Security Council on Saturday slapped the first-ever UN sanctions on Iran, targeting its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes in response to its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work.

In a resolution adopted unanimously, the 15-member council directed all states `to prevent the supply, sale or transfer ... of all items, materials, equipment, goods and technology which could contribute to Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs’. Qatar's UN envoy Nasser Abdelaziz al-Nasser, the president of the council for the current month, announced the unanimous vote.

Mr Nasser, who had abstained during a previous council vote on the Iranian nuclear programme last July, voted in favour this time, even though he had expressed reservations about the sanctions during the negotiations earlier this week.

The resolution mandated that `all states shall freeze the funds, other financial assets and economic resources’ owned by people or entities linked to `Iran’s proliferation-sensitive nuclear activities or the development of nuclear weapon delivery systems’. Russia’s UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin, who worked hard to soften the resolution, expressed hope that Iran would `correctly and very seriously take measures to correct the situation’. He made it clear that the sanctions would be lifted if Iran complies with demands of the council and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Acting US Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said the council expected Iran’s `full, unconditional and immediate compliance’ with the resolution, warning that `we will not hesitate to return to this body for further action’ if Iran does not comply.

“Today is a sad day for the non-proliferation regime,” Iranian Ambassador Javad Zarif said after the vote, slamming what he called `groundless and punitive measures’ against his country.

He accused the council of ignoring the `serious threat’ posed by Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert’s apparent admission last week that the Jewish state possesses nuclear weapons.

The text requires Iran to `without further delay suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development’ as well as `all heavy water-related projects’. It warns that if Tehran refuses to comply with UN demands, the council `shall adopt further appropriate measures under Article 41 of Chapter Seven’ of the UN charter, a reference to non-military sanctions.

Iran condemned the resolution as an illegal measure outside the council's jurisdiction. Foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini told state-run television the resolution `cannot affect or limit Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.” — Reuters/AFP