The sanctions were expanded by the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act of 1996, which cited Libya's failure to comply with U.N. resolutions, support of terrorism and efforts to acquire weapons of mass destruction.
Iran's President Mohammad Khatami has contacted the leaders of Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Syria to drum up support for his position that the U.N. should lead any worldwide fight against terrorism.
This proliferation is also forming the backdrop against which the United Nations is conducting an investigation of UAV use in counter-terrorism operations in order to determine, according to special investigator for the U.N.
Some families of the Pan Am victims complained about the delay in the U.N.. Others have said they want the U.N. and U.S. sanctions to remain in place until Libya proves it will not support terrorism.