WASHINGTON. Mar 2: The US House of Representative.- on Wednesday unanimously approved modified legislation giving President Bill Clinton the discretion to impose sanctions on Russia or any other country that helps Iran develop nuclear, chemical or biological weapons, reports Reuters.

The House vote of 420-0 follows Senate approval of the bill last week by a vote of 98-0.

The bill grants the president authority to impose a range of penalties. Including sanctions, on countries that supply technology. equipment or materiel to Iran for use in its weapons programme. The Senate nad mod tiled the bill to make the imposition of sanctions discretionary Instead of mandatory. .

The move reflects US concern that, despite the recent victory of reformists in Iran's parliamentary elections. Tehran seems unlikely to abandon Its quest to develop long-r^nge missiles capable of carr.ing nuclear and chemical war heads