Ambassadors from six major powers have announced anagreement to impose new sanctions on Iran for its nuclear programme.

The six - Britain,China, France, Germany, Russiaand the US– said on Thursday they had agreed on a draft UN resolution and the text wassent to the 15-nation Security Council for a vote.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the Iranian president, however,dismissed any new UN sanctions resolution as a "torn piece of paper"that would not stop Tehran'snuclear work.

The measure, which may be adopted next week, would penalise Tehran for refusing tosuspend uranium enrichment. 

The major-power agreement includes a ban on Iranian armsexports, an assets freeze on individuals and firms involved in Tehran'snuclear and ballistic missile programmes and a call to nations and institutionsto bar new grants or loans.

"We have confirmed we have an agreement on thetext," Emyr Jones Parry, Britain'sUN ambassador, announced after consultations with his counterparts.

"The United Kingdomwill introduce that text," he said.

Alejandro Wolff, a USambassador, told reporters: "I'm satisfied with the compromiseoutcome," which was sent to governments of the six countries on Wednesdaynight.  

"There are lots of things that we would have wantedhandled differently," he said. "I think that's a fair statement thatwould apply to every member."  

The new measures follow a resolution adopted in Decemberthat imposed trade sanctions on Iran'ssensitive nuclear materials and technology, and froze the assets of someIranian individuals and companies.

Iran,which insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful uses only, ignored aFebruary 21 deadline to suspend enrichment or face further action. 

A key element is a new list of individuals and entitiessubject to financial sanctions, such as firms owned by Iran'sRevolutionary Guards and the state-owned Bank Sepah.  

The text says Iranis banned from exporting any conventional weapons. But the measure calls onstates to "exercise vigilance and restraint" in shipping any heavyweapons to Tehran.

The measure would suspend the sanctions if Irancomplies with the council's demands within 60 days. If Tehrandoes not, further action would be considered.

Source: Agencies