The French and the Russians are bickering over a set of utterly useless proposed sanctions against Iran: Paris warns against ‘altering’ Iran sanctions. (Hat tip: Ron.)

PARIS, Dec 20, 2006 (AFP) - The French government Wednesday warned against any attempt to “alter the scope” of proposed UN sanctions over Tehran’s nuclear programme, after Moscow said it opposed some of the measures.

“It is important to preserve the unity of the Security Council, but not if that means altering the scope of the resolution,” foreign ministry spokesman Denis Simmoneau told reporters.

“That is why discussions are continuing, notably on what shape to give to restrictive measures against entities and persons responsible for sensitive activities targeted,” he said.

“We are still following the timeline we set ourselves,” which was to secure a Security Council vote on the text before Christmas, he said.

The five veto-wielding members of the Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — are trying to reach agreement on a European package of targeted UN sanctions against Iran over its refusal to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow objects to including a travel ban for certain Iranian officials in the proposed resolution because it would amount to unwarranted “punishment”.

I’m sure Ahmadinjead is quaking in fear at the thought of a travel ban.

UPDATE at 12/21/06 8:27:44 am:

Ahmadinejad: Britain, Israel, US to ‘vanish like the pharaohs’.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has predicted that Britian, Israel and the United States would eventually disappear from the world like the Egyptian pharaonic kings.

“The oppressive powers will disappear while the Iranian people will stay. Any power that is close to God will survive while the powers who are far from God will disappear like the pharaohs,” he said Wednesday, according to Iranian news agencies.

“Today, it is the United States, Britain and the Zionist regime which are doomed to disappear as they have moved far away from the teachings of God,” he said in a speech in the western town of Javanroud. “It is a divine promise.”

Ahmadinejad’s comments were the latest salvo by the deeply religious president against the West and Israel.