Obama. Spoke to Erdogan
Photo: AP
Report: Flotilla delays Iran sanctions vote
Sources say US to push back UN vote by three weeks because of IDF raid on Gaza-bound flotilla
WASHINGTON – The UN vote on a new round of sanctions against Iran, which was scheduled for Thursday, will likely be postponed because of the IDF raid on the flotilla bound for Gaza Monday, Politico reported Wednesday.
Sources in Washington said the Obama administration would delay the vote by three weeks, and attempt to carry it off at the end of June.
The US is hoping for a consensus on the sanctions among the 15 members of the UN Security Council, and President Barack Obama spoke on the phone with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in an attempt to calm tensions between Turkey, one of the non-permanent members of the council, and Israel.
Turkey was angered at the US's tepid response to the raid, in which Turkish citizens were killed.
The three previous Security Council resolutions were unanimously approved, but this vote does not appear to be on the same track. Sources say 10 of the 15 states support additional sanctions, but the US is still trying to persuade Turkey, Lebanon, and Brazil among others. A majority of at least nine votes are needed for the resolution to pass.
