Iran Warns Of Serious Consequences If U.N. Resolution Passes

Two toothless dogs fighting it out. The U.N. won't enforce the sanctions and Iran won't stop nuclear production. Hasn't Iran learned anything from the Saddam follies?

Iran warned on Monday of "serious consequences" if the UN Security Council adopts fresh sanctions against Tehran over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear work. "If a resolution is passed... it will have serious and logical consequences and we will announce them later," Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told a press conference. His comments came as the Security Council was due on Monday to discuss a proposed third set of sanctions over Iran's long-standing refusal to halt uranium enrichment. The sanctions package was agreed upon last week by foreign ministers of the five veto-wielding permanent members -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany. Iran is already under two sets of UN sanctions for its refusal to halt enrichment, the process which makes nuclear fuel but can be extended to make the fissile core of an atom bomb. Iran insists it has a right to enrichment to make fuel to meet increasing energy needs of its population and denies charges its nuclear programme has military aims. The proposed new measures include an outright travel ban by officials involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programmes and inspections of shipments to and from Iran if there are suspicions of prohibited goods. Diplomats said approval of the package, presented to the council's 10 non-permanent members on Friday, was likely to take several weeks.