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New sanctions on Iran considered by nations

Security Council members say a diplomatic solution to the nuclear standoff is the goal.

LONDON - The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany began work Monday on a new U.N. resolution to pressure Iran to suspend parts of its nuclear program, but said they were still committed to seeking a diplomatic solution.

Representative of the six nations, meeting in London, said they were seeking the best way to "re-engage" Tehran after it failed to respect a U.N. deadline to halt its uranium enrichment work. However, they said no decisions were made.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack, briefing reporters in Washington after the meeting, said the diplomats would hold a telephone conference Thursday to try "to hammer out the elements of a U.N. sanctions resolution."

However, sharp differences appear to remain between the tough U.S. position and what Russia and China, with close ties to Iran, are willing to accept.

The United Nations' nuclear watchdog agency confirmed last week that Iran had defied a Security Council order to freeze enrichment - a possible path to nuclear arms - and had expanded its program instead. Iran insists its only interest in the technology is for the production of electricity.

Senior officials from Britain, the United States, France, Germany, Russia, China and the European Union discussed the possibility of imposing incremental restrictions on trade and arms for Iran, officials said.

Sanctions approved in December ban all countries from supplying Iran with materials and technology that could contribute to its nuclear and missile programs.

Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, on Monday said if the United States made a formal request for talks, Iran would respond positively but would not accept conditions. On Sunday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said direct talks could be held if Iran suspended its nuclear program.

[Last modified February 27, 2007, 00:56:26]