UN sanctions on North Korea a clear message for Iran, says US

"I think Iran should take a look at this resolution and see that we've got a unanimous Security Council with all five permanent members," Ambassador John Bolton told reporters.

The resolution, adopted after intense negotiations, imposes weapons-related sanctions on North Korea and demands that Pyongyang suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile programme.

With a resolution now in place, the focus will switch next week to Iran, with the United States hoping for swift action on a draft resolution that would make a halt to Iran's uranium enrichment mandatory.

Bolton said the fact that the Security Council had managed to maintain its unity over North Korea and pass the first resolution on Pyongyang since 1993 sent a "very, very important signal to any would-be proliferators," including Iran.

His French counterpart Jean-Marc de La Sabliere, the president of the council for July, concurred.