Following are highlights of a 9-page resolution adopted by the UN Security Council Saturday to impose tougher sanctions on Iran.

Resolution 1747, cosponsored by Britain, France, and Germany, builds on sanctions stipulated in a previous resolution approved in December. The key points include:

-- notes that a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue would contribute to global nonproliferation efforts and to realizing the objective of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, including their means of delivery;

-- emphasizes the importance of political and diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated solution and that an offer of economic and diplomatic incentives made by the United States, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China to Iran remains on the table;

-- reaffirms that Iran shall without further delay implement UN Resolution 1737 and relevant IAEA resolution to suspend its nuclear enrichment activities and requests within 60 days a further report from the Director General of the IAEA on whether Iran has complied with these resolutions;

-- expands a list of Iranian officials and companies targeted for financial and travel restrictions;

-- slaps an assets freeze on individuals and entities involved in Iran's nuclear and ballistic missile programs;

-- bans Teheran from exporting arms, calls on states to "exercise vigilance and restraint" in shipping any heavy weapons to Teheran;

-- calls on nations and institutions not to offer new grants, financial assistance, or concessional loans to the Iranian government except for humanitarian and development purposes;

-- stresses the authority and role of the IAEA and underlines that the Iranian nuclear issues shall be resolved within the framework of the IAEA;

-- The UN Security Council would suspend all the sanctions if Iran complies with the council's demands within 60 days. Otherwise, the council will seek further actions under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the UN charter which excludes the use of military force.

Source: Xinhua