Security Council envoys fail to agree on Iran sanctions

A top US diplomat said envoys from five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany discussed sanctions against Iran over its disputed nuclear programme, but failed to reach agreement on how to proceed.

US Under-secretary of State Nicholas Burns said after nearly three hours of talks in Moscow yesterday that diplomats recognised the “need for a stiff response to Iran’s flagrant violations of its international responsibilities".

He said the possibility of sanctions had been discussed during the meeting hosted by the Russian Foreign Ministry, but indicated that further talks would be needed.

Discussions were expected to continue today during a meeting of envoys from the Group of Eight major industrialised nations.

“Iran’s actions last week have deepened concern in the international community and all of us agreed that the actions last week were fundamentally negative and a step backward,” Burns said. “So now the task for us is to agree on a way forward.”

He referred to the announcement last week by Iran’s hard-line president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, that the country “joined the club of nuclear countries”by successfully enriching uranium for the first time.

Burns gave no specifics as to the type or timing of sanctions and he refused to say whether Russia had softened its opposition to sanctions against Iran.

He reiterated that the US expected action in the Security Council after an April 28 deadline for Iran to stop uranium enrichment.

Other diplomats attending included Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Kislyak and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tianka.

The US and Britain say that if Iran does not comply with the UN Security Council’s April 28 deadline, they will seek a resolution that would make the demand compulsory.

Ahmadinejad remained defiant yesterday, warning that Iran will “cut off the hand of any aggressor” that threatens it and insisting that its military has to be equipped with the most modern technology.

“Iran’s enemies know your courage, faith and commitment to Islam and the land of Iran has created a powerful army that can powerfully defend the political borders,” he told a parade commemorating Iran’s Army Day.

Iran has refused to give up uranium enrichment, which the US and some of its allies suspect is meant to produce weapons. Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Ahmadinejad threw a new wrinkle into the debate last week by claiming his country was testing an advanced P-2 centrifuge, which could be used to more speedily create fuel for power plants or atomic weapons.

But some analysts familiar with the country’s technology said he could be deliberately exaggerating Iran’s capabilities, to boost his own political support or to persuade the International Atomic Energy Agency to back off.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called his Iranian counterpart, Manouchehr Mottaki, on Monday to urge Tehran to quickly answer questions related to its nuclear bid and halt all uranium enrichment activities, the ministry said yesterday.

Earlier, US President George Bush said “all options are on the table” to prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons but he would continue to focus on diplomacy.

“We want to solve this issue diplomatically and we’re working hard to do so,” Bush said at the White House.

He also said there should be a unified effort involving countries “who recognise the danger of Iran having a nuclear weapon”.

Bush was asked if his administration was planning for the possibility of a nuclear strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. “All options are on the table,” he said.

Russia and China, which have strong economic ties to Iran, have opposed punitive measures. Bush said he intends to call on Chinese President Hu Jintao to step up pressure on Iran when the two leaders meet tomorrow at the White House.

Britain also urged the countries to work closely together to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. “We hope that we’ll get behind a diplomatic avenue, a system of increasing but reversible pressure which Iran will listen to,” said Julian Reilly of the British Embassy in Moscow.