Time not ripe for more anti-Iran sanctions: Miliband

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it is not the time to “rush” for more UN sanctions against Iran as America is trying to reach out to the Islamic Republic.

if Iran did not respond in a positive way to the American outreach policy, “we can then ensure that further steps are taken,” said the British secretary.

He made the remarks in a written reply to William Hague, the shadow foreign secretary and member of the House of Commons.

Hague had asked if the British government supported a UN ban on exporting arms to Iran.

Miliband replied that a UN prohibition on the export of arms and related material to Iran may be required in due course.

The UN Security Council's Resolution 1747 forced all member states to exercise vigilance and restraint in the supply, sale or transfer of a variety of arms and related materials to Iran.

The British foreign secretary said the UN Sanctions Committee, in charge with supervising the implementation of anti-Iran resolutions, reports to the Security Council every 90 days on its work and measures taken by states in line with resolutions 1737 and 1747.

Miliband further said the committee also recommended ways to strengthen the effectiveness of the sanctions measures.

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