Iran Faces 'Most Significant UN Nuclear Sanctions'

Iran faces its toughest sanctions for failing to comply with UN demands over its nuclear enrichment, the US says.

The Security Council is to vote on a fourth round of sanctions to tighten financial curbs on Iran, while expanding a limited arms embargo.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said they were "the most significant sanctions that Iran has ever faced." "The amount of unity that has been engendered by the international community is very significant," she said during a press conference with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa in Quito.

But, according to BBC News, Iran's president warned his country would not agree to nuclear talks if the sanctions were imposed. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also said that a nuclear fuel-swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil was an offer that would not be repeated.

Speaking on Tuesday at a regional summit in Istanbul Ahmadinejad said that if the US did not change its position "the first ones to lose would be President Obama and the people of the United States."

He also urged Russia to be "careful not to be beside the enemies of the Iranian people."

Amid heightened tensions over the new resolution, Iran said on Tuesday it had evidence one of its nuclear scientists was abducted and was being held in the US against his will.

Shahram Amiri disappeared a year ago while on a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. A video broadcast by Iranian TV on Tuesday purported to show Mr Amiri saying he had been kidnapped and was living in Arizona. Hours later, another video posted on YouTube appeared to show the scientist saying he was happy in America.

The US has denied abducting him.

The fresh sanctions if approved will include:
 

• Prohibiting Iran from buying several categories of heavy weapons including attack helicopters and missiles
•  Urging all states to inspect cargo suspected of containing banned items to and from Iran in their territory, including seaports and airports
•  Calling on countries to block financial transactions and ban the licensing of Iranian banks if they suspect a link to nuclear activities
•  Increasing the number of individuals - reportedly including senior nuclear officials - and companies targeted with asset freezes and travel bans

Iran agreed in May to deposit 1,200kg of low-enriched uranium with Turkey, in return for reactor fuel, but the US and its Western allies said the agreement was too little too late. They fear Tehran is secretly trying to build a nuclear bomb. Iran says its program is aimed solely at peaceful energy use.