Major powers to seek bans against Tehran
Monday, 3 December 2007
PARIS, Dec 2 (AFP): The six powers dealing with Iran's contested nuclear programme will start work on a resolution
calling for new sanctions against Iran at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a French diplomatic source said Saturday after a meeting here.
"The six have agreed to examine the elements of a new resolution on sanctions" against Tehran, said the diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous.
"A compromise text will be worked out and should circulate between the capital cities concerned next week."
The text would be sent to the UNSC in New York if the countries manage to agree on the details, the source added.
Tehran is already under two sets of UN sanctions, as well as unilateral US sanctions, for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
Representatives of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany met in Paris Saturday to discuss Iran's contested nuclear programme after last-ditch talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
The European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was 'disappointed' after the talks in London Friday with Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, hours before a deadline for him to report back to world powers on the issue.
Jalili said Saturday that Iran was not to blame for the disappointment expressed by Solana.
Western nations suspect Iran is using its nuclear programme to covertly develop a nuclear bomb. Despite Iranian denials, the United States (US) and its allies are pressing for stronger UN sanctions against Tehran, a move resisted by China and Russia.
The French diplomat said the new resolution would be a
compromise between Western nations and China and Russia. A resolution could be agreed upon in the short-term, perhaps in the coming weeks, the source said.
Tehran had promised to bring 'new ideas' to the table for the London talks but Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said Friday: "There was not enough new in order not to be disappointed."
Meanwhile, Reuters from Tehran adds: Further UN sanctions will not solve the row with the West over Iran's disputed nuclear plans, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Sunday, a day after six world powers discussed imposing new penalties on Tehran.
The five permanent UNSC members and Germany agreed in September to delay sanctions against Iran until the end of November, pending a report by Solana on his mediation efforts and another by the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report found Iran was cooperating, but not proactively.
Iran has refused to stop the activity, saying it is a national right and insisting its work is based on international law and regulations.
calling for new sanctions against Iran at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a French diplomatic source said Saturday after a meeting here.
"The six have agreed to examine the elements of a new resolution on sanctions" against Tehran, said the diplomat, who asked to remain anonymous.
"A compromise text will be worked out and should circulate between the capital cities concerned next week."
The text would be sent to the UNSC in New York if the countries manage to agree on the details, the source added.
Tehran is already under two sets of UN sanctions, as well as unilateral US sanctions, for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment.
Representatives of the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany met in Paris Saturday to discuss Iran's contested nuclear programme after last-ditch talks failed to produce a breakthrough.
The European Union's (EU) foreign policy chief Javier Solana said he was 'disappointed' after the talks in London Friday with Iranian nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, hours before a deadline for him to report back to world powers on the issue.
Jalili said Saturday that Iran was not to blame for the disappointment expressed by Solana.
Western nations suspect Iran is using its nuclear programme to covertly develop a nuclear bomb. Despite Iranian denials, the United States (US) and its allies are pressing for stronger UN sanctions against Tehran, a move resisted by China and Russia.
The French diplomat said the new resolution would be a
compromise between Western nations and China and Russia. A resolution could be agreed upon in the short-term, perhaps in the coming weeks, the source said.
Tehran had promised to bring 'new ideas' to the table for the London talks but Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said Friday: "There was not enough new in order not to be disappointed."
Meanwhile, Reuters from Tehran adds: Further UN sanctions will not solve the row with the West over Iran's disputed nuclear plans, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Sunday, a day after six world powers discussed imposing new penalties on Tehran.
The five permanent UNSC members and Germany agreed in September to delay sanctions against Iran until the end of November, pending a report by Solana on his mediation efforts and another by the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report found Iran was cooperating, but not proactively.
Iran has refused to stop the activity, saying it is a national right and insisting its work is based on international law and regulations.