Analysts say the new draft has basically followed the modalities of Resolutions 1737 and 1747 with the aim of imposing appropriate pressure on Tehran to provide impetus for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

They say the proposed sanctions can only harm Iran in a limited way, and the real significance does not lie in the actual penalties but in the sense that they represent political and diplomatic pressure from the international community.

Differences hard to bridge within Security Council

As the five permanent members of the Security Council have reached broad consensus on the new draft, no major problems are likely to prevent it from getting adopted procedurally. The question lies in whether the 15-member council could pass a resolution unanimously, as was the case with the previous two resolutions on Tehran.

It appears that unanimity could be hard to come by this time around.

Some of the 10 non-permanent members, like South Africa, Indonesia and Libya, have already raised objections or doubts over the resolution on further sanctions on Iran.

Libya seems to have difficulties in principle with endorsing further sanctions and is likely to call for more negotiations as the best way to address the Iranian nuclear issue.

South Africa, for its part, says the inspection of Iranian cargo could be thrown into legal limbo. Indonesia also expressed misgivings over whether sanctions would hurt Tehran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).