Durban: South Africa today defended its decision to vote in favour of sanctions on Iran, saying Tehran had refused to fully cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Speaking in Cape Town following widespread surprise at the country s decision to support the UN resolution against Iran in New York on Monday, Foreign Affairs Director in charge of UN affairs, Xolisa Mabhlono said Iran had refused to give the IAEA high level access to its nuclear enrichment facilities.

"They said they no longer wanted to give that level of access," he said.

Mabhlono also said South Africa had made "interventions" and amendments in the UN Security Council resolution.

"Some of the interventions included the specific recognition of the latest report by the Director-General of the IAEA, and the acknowledgment that some progress had been made in Iran s cooperation with the nuclear watchdog."

Mabhlono also said once Iran had established the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities, there would be no discrimination against it and that it should be treated as any other member of the non-proliferation treaty.

"Two other factors that played a part in swaying South Africa were the call by Libya for the need to establish a Nuclear Free Zone in the Middle East which was included in the resolution; and a call by Vietnam for recognition of International Law and civil Aviation Law which was included in resolution.", he said.

Mabhongo said South Africa "was not persuaded" by any country.

He said Iran had made great progress in its work with the IAEA and hoped that it would not retaliate after this vote by withdrawing its co-operation with the nuclear watchdog.

Source : PTI