Clinton boasts on Iran sanctions

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 06:13:31 GMT

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has hailed the new UN Security Council (UNSC)sanctions against Iran, claiming that they will hinder Tehran's nuclear energy program.

The vote on new sanctions against Iran by an "overwhelming majority" in the UNSC justifies the Obama administration's strategy of reaching out to Tehran, Clinton boasted in talking with reporters in Bogota, Colombia Wednesday.

According to the Associated Press, Clinton "downplayed" the role of Brazil and Turkey which voted against the new sanctions, adding the US expected them to "abide by the resolutions, as all other member states of the United Nations will be expected to."

Meanwhile, some US lawmakers described the sanctions against Iran as weak. They said the US Congress would pass its own sanctions later this month.

In the meantime, the Russian foreign ministry warned against unilateral sanctions, saying such attempts were unacceptable. Moscow also said sanctions would not resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear program.

European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said she was ready to hold talks with Tehran over its nuclear program.

Of the 15 UNSC member states, Brazil and Turkey voted against the new round of sanctions, while Lebanon abstained.

The fourth round of sanctions was adopted against Iran over its uranium enrichment which has been portrayed as a threat despite repeated assurances from the IAEA on the non-diversion of nuclear material in the country.