"All the sanction measures are reversible," Chinese Ambassador Wang said. "If Iran suspends uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities and complies with the relevant IAEA and Security Council resolutions, the sanctions will be suspended, and even terminated."

In a display of the six country's resolve for the pursuit of a diplomatic solution, their foreign ministers issued a joint statement Monday after the resolution's adoption, encouraging the European Union's foreign policy chief Javier Solana to meet with Saeed Jalili, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to "address the interests and concerns of both sides in a manner which can gradually create the conditions for the opening of negotiations."

Failure to achieve unanimity

In contrast to the previous two sanctions resolutions on Iran, the latest one failed to clear the 15-member Security Council with unanimity, a goal the sponsors tried hard to achieve so as to highlight the resolve of the international community and the isolation of Tehran.

In late February, Britain, France and Germany drafted a resolution based on elements agreed in Berlin in January by foreign ministers of Germany and the five permanent members of the Security Council, and distributed the draft to members of the council.

South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam and Libya raised reservations about the draft, arguing that slapping stronger sanctions at a time when Iran makes progress in cooperating with the IAEA would hurt such collaboration. Some of them even hinted they would vote against or abstain.

To alley the four countries' misgivings, the co-sponsors made some non-substantial revisions to the draft, such as further emphasis on and support for the role of the IAEA in solving the Iranian nuclear issue and reference to the observation of national and international law in cargo inspections of Iranian aircraft and vessels.

To garner maximum support, Britain and France postponed the vote twice to allow for more diplomatic consultations.

South Africa, Vietnam and Libya eventually voted in favor of the resolution, but Indonesia held its ground and abstained, dashing Western countries' hope of a unanimous outcome.