Diplomats still deadlocked over Iran nuclear issue

The US and its European allies remained at odds with Russia and China over Iran’s suspected nuclear programme today, as Britain proposed new talks and sanctions backed by force if necessary.

Senior diplomats from six key nations convened for a four-and-a-half-hour meeting last night to discuss how to persuade Iran to stop enriching uranium, the radioactive material that can be used to make nuclear weapons.

But they still could not overcome Russian and Chinese opposition to tough action in the United Nations Security Council.

The meeting, hosted by British Foreign Office director John Sawers, occurred hours after a letter came to light detailing Britain’s approach to Iran.

The confidential document from Sawers suggested a blend of threats and enticement, starting with a security council statement and then moving to a legally-binding resolution demanding Iran halt uranium enrichment.

It would introduce a package of incentives as a way of getting Russia and China on board, and if Tehran failed to allay fears that it may be developing nuclear weapons, push “further measures”, possibly including sanctions, according to the letter obtained by The Associated Press.

But last night’s meeting appeared to achieve little, with officials from all sides saying that talks would continue.

The immediate disagreement, with which the security council has grappled for a week, is over a proposed council statement urging Iran to abandon uranium enrichment and calling for a report in 14 days.

The security council has scheduled consultations on the statement later today and US Ambassador John Bolton had expressed hope it could be adopted at the end of the meeting.

But US undersecretary of state Nicholas Burns told reporters after last night’s meeting that further discussions were needed.

“It may take a little bit of time, but it’s going to be worth the time because when we do achieve that statement, it will be yet another clear unified message by the international community [to Iran],” he said.

The six countries present – the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany - agree that Iran should not develop nuclear weapons.

But they differ on the best way to get Tehran to halt uranium enrichment, which can be used either in a civilian nuclear programme to generate electricity or to produce nuclear arms.

The British hoped the Russians and Chinese would agree to tougher council action if necessary in exchange for Western willingness to engage in new negotiations, according to the letter and UN diplomats.

But Moscow and Beijing want the UN nuclear watchdog agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency, to assume the main role in cajoling Iran on enrichment and its refusal to fully co-operate with an IAEA probe.

They also argue that 14 days is too short for a progress report on Iran’s compliance.

After last night’s meeting, China’s UN Ambassador Wang Guangya reiterated his stance that Beijing could agree to security council action “if it is a short, brief political statement”. He said the council would need to keep talking about its first step.

The March 16 letter stressed the importance of showing Iran that “more serious measures are likely” if it does not stop enriching uranium – possibly including a legally-binding resolution that could be enforced by military means.

But it acknowledged the challenge that negotiators would face in getting Russia and China on board and suggested a package of proposals to entice Iran.

“We are not going to bring the Russians and Chinese to accept significant sanctions over the coming months, certainly not without further efforts to bring the Iranians around,” the letter said.

It was addressed to Burns, German foreign office political director Michael Schaefer and French foreign ministry political director Stanislas de Laboulaye.

Russia and China have said tough council action could spark an Iranian withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and eventually lead to tougher measures, such as sanctions.

The US, Britain and France want a statement listing demands already made by the IAEA, including the suspension of uranium enrichment and steps toward greater transparency and more co-operation.

They also want IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei to report to the council on Iran’s progress in meeting those demands in two weeks.

Negotiations between Iran and France, Germany and Britain, acting on behalf of the European Union, collapsed in August after Tehran rejected an incentives package offered in return for a permanent end to uranium enrichment.

Its subsequent moves to develop full-blown enrichment capabilities led the IAEA’s 35-nation board to ask for security council involvement earlier this year.