West set July 12 deadline for Iran in nuclear stand-off

Western powers have set July 12 as an informal deadline for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment and agree to talks on its nuclear programme or face the threat of UN Security Council sanctions, diplomats said today.

The diplomats also said that Russia and China were closer than ever before to supporting the West in seeking to pressure Iran by the threat of UN Security Council action, including sanctions, if Tehran refused a six-power package of incentives meant to wean it off enrichment.