The UN Security Council on Wednesday passed a resolution to slap new sanctions on Iran.

The move was the fourth time that the UN has imposed punitive measures on Iran for its suspect nuclear program since 2006 and the punishment is considered more severe than ever before.

The 12-2 vote indicated the international community's firm demand for Iran to clarify its nuclear program but relevant parties, including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, have all pledged continuous diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution of the issue.

The new UN resolution, dismissed by Iran as "worthless," may result in antagonism and strengthened conflicts for some time, but it still leaves enough room for future diplomatic efforts. All parties are expected to come back to the negotiating table to seek a peaceful resolution at last, observers say.

Severe punishment only covers nuclear field

The Security Council since 2006 has adopted six resolutions on the Iran nuclear issue, four of which involved punitive measures. Resolution 1929, the newest, is considered the most severe and contains something that the previous ones did not.

For example, the new measure forbids Iranian investment abroad in nuclear facilities and activities, bans whole new categories of weapons to be imported into Iran, bans Iran's ability to engage in any activities related to ballistic missiles that could be capable of launching nuclear weapons.

It also imposes asset freezes on 40 new entities, more than triple the number of any previous resolution. It also imposes sweeping new restrictions on financial activities and banking activities and imposes a comprehensive cargo inspection regime to prevent Iran from continuing to smuggle contraband.

Meanwhile, a panel of eight experts will supervise implementation of the resolution to ensure its effectiveness. It is expected that through these efforts the UN will gradually develop a mature system of punishing Iran, further squeezing its space for nuclear activities and mounting greater pressure on the country in the international community.

However, observers have noted that all of the UN punitive measures are meant only for Iran's nuclear efforts without any potential affect on the country's normal energy industry or trade and economic development.

In adopting the new resolution, diplomats have also made the statement that Tehran's right to peaceful uses of nuclear energy should be fully respected and safeguarded.

Back to negotiation expected sooner or later

In addressing the Iran nuclear issue, the UN Security Council has always followed the double track of punishment and negotiation.

In adopting the new resolution, the relevant parties have also stressed that point. The six powers, which negotiated the new resolution during the past several months, attached in the resolution the full content of their proposal for restarting negotiations with Iran.

"The secretary-general continues to support a comprehensive and negotiated political solution to this issue and called for dialogue and consultations on the matter," a spokesman for Ban said after the resolution was passed.

The United States, which had led the push for the new UN sanctions, also made clear it still wants diplomatic efforts.

"I want to be clear, these sanctions do not close the door on diplomacy.Iran continues to have the opportunity to take a different and better path," President Barack Obama said after the resolution was adopted.

China has also called for going back to the negotiating table as soon as possible.

"The action taken by the Security Council should be appropriate, incremental, clearly targeted, and in line with the actual practice of Iran in the nuclear field, and it should reinforce the diplomatic efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue," Li Baodong, the Chinese permanent representative to the United Nations, told the Security Council meeting.

"We are of the view that sanctions can never fundamentally resolve the Iranian nuclear issue, it is imperative to return to the track of dialogue and negotiations," he said. "Adoption of the new resolution does not mean that the door to diplomatic efforts is closed."

Li said the new resolution was aimed at bringing Iran back to the negotiating table and activating a new round of diplomatic efforts.

British Ambassador Mark Lyall Grant also said that all the UN resolutions punishing Iran are reversible. As long as Iran stops its illegal nuclear activities, all the punitive measures will be stopped and lifted eventually, he said.