AFP: Representatives from six major powers began talks in Washington Monday to consider new sanctions aimed at convincing Iran to halt sensitive uranium enrichment work, a State Department spokesman said.
WASHINGTON (AFP) Representatives from six major powers began talks in Washington Monday to consider new sanctions aimed at convincing Iran to halt sensitive uranium enrichment work, a State Department spokesman said.
Spokesman Tom Casey said foreign ministry officials of the five UN Security Council permanent members plus Germany began talks mid-morning and were adjourn their talks later in the day.
State Department number three diplomat Nicholas Burns was chairing the meeting, after which no formal declaration was expected to be issued.
“It is an opportunity for the political directors … to talk about the current resolution which has been put forward at the UN and we hoped to see passed very shortly, as well as looking at additional steps that may be taken beyond this,” Casey said.
Britain, France and the United States are pushing for a new sanctions resolution after the UN atomic watchdog said it could still not confirm if the Iranian atomic drive was peaceful.
The draft text has been brought forward at the UN Security Council by Britain and France and it remains to be seen how veto-wielding members China and Russia will respond.
The United States and its allies suspect that Tehran aims to build nuclear weapons. Iran insists its nuclear program exists for civilian energy purposes.
