Iran Calls New UN Sanctions 'Worthless'

TEHRAN, Iran -- Iran vowed to push ahead with uranium enrichment Tuesday, a day after the U.N. Security Council passed a third round of sanctions that Tehran called "worthless" and politically biased.

The council approved the measures in a 14-0 vote, but unity among the major powers faltered Tuesday when Russia and China blocked an attempt by Western nations to introduce a resolution on Iran's nuclear defiance at a meeting of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency.

The dispute reflected the often contentious relations between the West and Russia and China about how to deal with Iran's refusal to suspend enrichment and meet other Security Council demands aimed at ensuring its nuclear program isn't trying to produce atomic weapons.

The sanctions approved Monday ordered a freeze on assets of additional Iranian officials and companies with links to the country's nuclear and missile programs and banned for the first time trade with Iran in some goods that have both civilian and military uses.

"This resolution is contrary to the spirit and articles of the International Atomic Energy Agency. It has been issued based on political motivations and a biased approach. It is worthless and unacceptable," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini was quoted as saying by Iran's official news agency.

He said the sanctions would "have no impact on the resolve and determination of the Iranian nation and government to fulfill its legitimate rights in continuing its peaceful nuclear activities within the framework of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty."

Iran insists its enrichment work is intended to produce fuel for nuclear reactors that would generate electricity. The U.S. and others worry about Iran's intentions, because higher-grade enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear warheads.

Zalmay Khalilzad, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, told reporters in New York on Tuesday that Tehran's response meant the Security Council had taken appropriate action.

"That shows that they don't like what has happened, which means that we've done the right thing, because they are in violation of two previous resolutions and we have to do something that indicates displeasure and causes more pressure on them," Khalilzad said.

The new sanctions came after an IAEA report in late February said Iran continues to defy U.N. demands to suspend uranium enrichment.

While the report said the IAEA had made progress investigating Iran's past nuclear activities, it said Tehran had not responded properly to intelligence forwarded by the U.S. and its allies purportedly showing the Iranians were developing nuclear weapons technology.

In an attempt to keep up pressure on Iran, Britain, France and Germany had hoped to present a resolution before the IAEA board, which is currently meeting in Vienna, Austria, that highlighted Tehran's nuclear defiance.