UN votes for new sanctions on Iran over nuclear issue
The UN Security Council has voted in favour of fresh sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
The council voted 12 to two, with one abstention, in favour of a fourth round of sanctions, including tighter finance curbs and an expanded arms embargo.
US President Barack Obama said the sanctions were the toughest ever on Iran sending an "unmistakable message" on stopping the spread of nuclear arms.
Iran quickly vowed to continue its uranium enrichment activities.
Its envoy to the UN's nuclear watchdog Ali Asghar Soltanieh said: "Nothing will change."
The US and its allies fear Iran is secretly trying to build a nuclear bomb, but Tehran insists its programme is aimed solely at peaceful energy use.
Heavy weapons
The Security Council resolution was opposed by Turkey and Brazil. They had earlier brokered a deal with Iran on uranium enrichment. Lebanon abstained.
The new sanctions were passed after being watered down during negotiations with Russia and China on Tuesday.
There are no crippling economic sanctions and there is no oil embargo.
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[Sanctions] will most probably lead to the suffering of the people of Iran
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Those passed include prohibiting Iran from buying heavy weapons such as attack helicopters and missiles.
They also toughen rules on financial transactions with Iranian banks and increase the number of Iranian individuals and companies that are targeted with asset freezes and travel bans.
There is also a new framework of cargo inspections to detect and stop Iran's acquisition of illicit materials.
Mr Obama accused Iran's leaders of "hiding behind outlandish rhetoric".
But he said the sanctions did "not close the door on diplomacy" and he urged Iran to "choose a different and better path".
HOW THE COUNCIL VOTED
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FOR
* Permanent (with power of veto): China; France; Russia; UK; US
* Non-permanent (term ends 2010): Austria; Bosnia-Herzegovina; Gabon; Japan; Mexico; Nigeria; Uganda
AGAINST
* Non-permanent: Brazil and Turkey. Had both brokered a deal with Iran in which Tehran would send low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for reactor fuel
ABSTAINED
* Non permanent: Lebanon. Had voiced opposition to the sanctions. Iran-backed Hezbollah is part of the government
However, both Turkey and Brazil spoke out in opposition, saying the deal they had brokered with Iran had not been given time.
Brazilian ambassador to the UN Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti said: "We do not see sanctions as an effective instrument in this case. They will most probably lead to the suffering of the people of Iran and will play into the hands of people on all sides who do not want dialogue to prevail."
Turkey's envoy Ertugrul Apakan said the Turkey-Brazil deal had created "a new reality" on Iran's nuclear programme and Turkey was "deeply concerned" that sanctions would have a negative impact.
Prof Abbas Edalat, the founder of the Campaign against Sanctions and Military Intervention in Iran, told BBC Radio 4's PM programme that the sanctions would make "everything worse".
He said: "What the US has done has proved conclusively beyond any doubt that it is not interested in negotiations with Iran... There has been massive hypocrisy here."
The BBC News website's world affairs correspondent, Paul Reynolds, says this new round of sanctions is unlikely to have any more effect on Iranian policy than the first three.
Iran's vital economic interests have not been targeted, he says, and Tehran has in any case developed systems of evasion.
Iran had tried to ease international concerns by agreeing the deal with Turkey and Brazil. It would see Tehran deposit 1,200kg of low-enriched uranium with Turkey, in return for reactor fuel.
But the deal has not been accepted by world powers and on Wednesday, the US, Russia and France outlined their concerns in letters to the IAEA.
