The United Nations Security Council is set to vote today to impose a fourth round of UN sanctions on Iran because of its alleged nuclear weapons program. Western diplomats expect twelve of the council members, including all five that hold vetoes, to vote for the resolution. Turkey, Brazil and Lebanon are not expected to support it. The Obama administration has described the resolution as “the most significant sanctions that Iran has ever faced.”

US Ambassador Susan Rice: “It is a strong, broad-based resolution that will impose meaningful and significant new sanctions on Iran. Our aim remains to persuade Iran to halt its nuclear program and negotiate constructively and in earnest with the international community.”

The Obama administration is pushing this new round of sanctions against Iran even though Iran recently reached a deal with Turkey and Brazil to ship most of its enriched uranium to Turkey in exchange for low-level nuclear fuel to run a medical reactor. On Tuesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad threatened to abandon the nuclear fuel swap deal if new sanctions are imposed.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: “The Tehran deal has shown everyone that not only Turkey and Brazil, but many other world countries too, want a breakthrough over the current situation. The Tehran deal has provided the US and its allies a new opportunity, and we hope they will use this opportunity in the best possible way.”