Iran will face the same sanctions treatment as the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea if it continues to develop nuclear technology, the United
States warned on Sunday.
"I hope the lesson they (Iran) learn is that if they continue to pursue
nuclear weapons, they will face the same kind of isolation and restrictions that
we have just imposed on the North Koreans (DPRK)," said John Bolton, U.S.
ambassador to the UN, in an interview with CNN.
Washington has sought to impose sanctions on Iran through the UN Security
Council on the grounds that the Iran is developing a nuclear weapons program
under the cover of a civilian program. However, Iran has said its nuclear
program is for peaceful purposes only.
Following the DPRK's claim that it had conducted a nuclear test, the UN
Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Saturday to impose
sanctions on the northeast Asian state.
The resolution, cosponsored by the United States and eight other nations,
condemned the nuclear test and demanded that the country eliminate its nuclear
weapons and programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. The
resolution also authorized sanctions against the DPRK geared toward stifling its
ability to develop nuclear ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction.