Iran says surprised at sanctions plan, urges patience

By Dominic Evans

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Iran said on Saturday it was surprised by proposed new sanctions over its nuclear programme and said major powers should have waited for the verdict of a United Nations watchdog in March.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said there had been an understanding between Iran and the major powers -- Britain, France, Germany, the United States, Russia and China -- to give inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency time to resolve questions over Tehran's programme.

"This cooperation started five months ago and we have reached a milestone in that process. Now we are on the brink of the finalisation of that cooperation," Mottaki told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

"Therefore we advise them to exercise restraint. There is not much time left until the final report of the IAEA comes out," Mottaki said, speaking through an interpreter.

Western countries say Iran's refusal to stop enriching uranium supports their suspicion that Tehran is seeking nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear programme is peaceful and has ignored repeated U.N. demands that it cease enrichment.

Foreign ministers of the six powers agreed on an outline in Berlin on Tuesday and the text of their proposed third round of sanctions was circulated on Friday to the 10 nonpermanent council members.

The text will be the basis of a resolution intended for the Security Council to pass in the next few weeks.

The new measures proposed against Tehran call for mandatory travel bans and asset freezes for specific Iranian officials and vigilance on all banks in Iran, according to a draft text.