Australia to oversee Taliban, Iran sanctions

Australia has been appointed to chair the UN Security Council committees overseeing the international sanctions regimes against Al Qaeda, the Taliban, and Iran.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says the role, which comes after Australia won a seat on the Security Council last year, is a reflection of Australia's diplomatic standing on the world stage.

Australia will also be vice-chair for the sanctions committees on the Sudan, the Ivory Coast and Lebanon.

"This is a vote of confidence in Australia," Senator Carr said.

"It shows that the Security Council, including particularly its five permanent members, have got a fair bit of confidence in Australia's diplomatic pull, and in particular in the area of anti-terrorism.

"Our role on the committee will be to determine which individuals or entities are subject to Al Qaeda or Taliban sanctions.