The UN Security Council began consultations Thursday afternoon on a draft resolution, intending to impose sanctions on Iran for its unyielding nuclear program.

The United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany held closed consultation at the British UN mission to seek common position on the draft Security Council resolution, which was circulated on Tuesday night by the three European countries among the five permanent members of the council.

The European draft would invoke Article 41 under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, calling for enforcement of sanctions but excluding any military action.

According to the draft, it would ban Iranian trade on nuclear materials and ballistic missiles. Furthermore, all assets related to Iranian nuclear and missile programs would be frozen and travel bans would be imposed on scientists involved in said programs.

The UN Security Council passed a resolution in July, demanding that Iran halt its controversial nuclear program by Aug. 31 or face possible sanctions. However, Iran has so far failed to comply with the resolution. 

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2006)