UNITED NATIONS — The Security Council voted unanimously Saturday to impose sanctions on Iran intended to curtail its nuclear program, ending two months of haggling that highlighted the divisions among council members rather than their unity.
The resolution, delayed by disagreements over how restrictive the penalties should be, bans the transfer of technology and materials that could help Iran build nuclear weapons and the missiles to deliver them. It also demands that Iran immediately suspend uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent fuel within 60 days or face further sanctions.
The resolution is the culmination of more than three years of persuasion by the United States, convinced that Iran's nuclear energy program is a cover for developing nuclear weapons know-how. But China and Russia, permanent members of the Security Council, had resisted action that might harm their commercial interests in Iran, and said they feared isolating the Islamic Republic.
The final language included several concessions to Russia and China; nonetheless, Iran immediately rejected the watered-down resolution. "A nation is being punished for exercising its inalienable rights" to develop nuclear energy, Iranian Ambassador Javad Zarif told the council after the vote.
Security Council diplomats trumpeted the strong message the council was sending Iran to compel it to stop enriching uranium and return to talks. But they privately conceded that they did not expect the bans to have a significant effect. Washington is urging its allies to build on the resolution with their own national sanctions.
Alejandro D. Wolff, the acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the resolution was "only a first step" and that harsher sanctions could be in store. "If necessary, we will not hesitate to return to this body for further action if Iran fails to take steps to comply," he said.
European allies had long insisted that carrots would work better than sticks. But after Tehran rejected a package of incentives offered in June to resume talks, then ignored an Aug. 31 Security Council deadline to stop enriching uranium, patience with Iran dwindled. Even Russia said that Iran needed to allay suspicions by heeding the Security Council demand to halt uranium enrichment.
Enriched uranium can be used for producing fuel for nuclear power plants, as well as for nuclear weapons. Tehran insists that it is interested only in generating energy, and will stand by its right to do so.
