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Diplomats set for key Iran talks UN powers end Iran nuclear talks
(3 days later)
Top diplomats from six key nations are meeting in London to discuss further moves to make Iran comply with demands to end its nuclear programme. Top diplomats from six key nations have ended discussions in London on further moves to make Iran comply with demands to end its nuclear programme.
The talks come after the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Iran had ignored a deadline to suspend nuclear activities. The talks came after the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Iran had ignored a deadline to suspend nuclear activities.
The five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany will seek consensus on how to put more pressure on Tehran. The UK Foreign Office called the talks "productive" and said work had begun on a new UN Security Council resolution.
But on Sunday President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would not go back on its nuclear programme. On Sunday Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said his country would not go back on its nuclear programme.
The country's nuclear development was "a train on a one-way track with no room for stopping, reverse gear or braking," Mr Ahmadinejad said. And on Monday an Iranian spokesman said demands for it to cease nuclear enrichment as a precondition for talks were "illegal and illogical" and "in contradiction with the Iranian nation's dignity".
Deadline
Iran denies Western claims it is secretly trying to build nuclear arms, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful, energy-producing purposes.Iran denies Western claims it is secretly trying to build nuclear arms, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful, energy-producing purposes.
Travel ban POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS New UN resolution on tougher economic sanctions, tabled by US or European alliesUS pressure on Europeans to step up bilateral sanctionsNew initiative to get Iran back to talks class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/4031603.stm">Q&A: Iran's nuclear plans
Monday's meeting of diplomats from the US, Russia, China, France, the UK plus Germany will discuss how to make Iran meet UN demands to halt its nuclear enrichment activities. Monday's meeting of diplomats from the five permanent UN Security Council members - the US, Russia, China, France, and Britain - plus Germany, was called to discuss how to make Iran meet UN demands to halt uranium enrichment.
POSSIBLE NEXT STEPS New UN resolution on tougher economic sanctions, tabled by US or European alliesUS pressure on Europeans to step up bilateral sanctionsNew initiative to get Iran back to talks class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/4031603.stm">Q&A: Iran and the nuclear issue "We had a productive first discussion of the next steps... We began work on a new Security Council resolution," a Foreign Office statement said, adding that the talks would continue later in the week.
The Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran in December, setting a 60-day deadline for it to stop enriching uranium.The Security Council imposed sanctions on Iran in December, setting a 60-day deadline for it to stop enriching uranium.
But a report last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Iran was instead expanding its enrichment programme. But a report last week by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said that Iran was instead expanding the programme.
Enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, but highly-enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear bombs. Enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, but highly enriched uranium can be used to make nuclear bombs.
The delegates will discuss new steps that could be taken to force Iran into line. Travel ban
These, says the BBC's Jonathan Marcus, could include travel bans on named individuals associated with Iran's nuclear and missile programmes. New tougher sanctions could include travel bans on Iranian officials individuals associated with nuclear and missile programmes.
The US is also eager to discuss ways in which bilateral pressure can be applied on Tehran, with issues such as European export credits for business with Iran and arms sales from Russia on the agenda. The BBC's diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall says the London meeting was a chance to gauge whether Russia and China could be persuaded to maintain pressure on Iran.
But, our correspondent says, the meeting is only the first step in what looks set to be an incremental process aimed at getting the Iranians back to the negotiating table. The US was also eager to discuss ways in which bilateral pressure can be applied on Tehran, with issues such as European export credits for business with Iran and arms sales from Russia on the agenda.
On Sunday, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the US would hold direct talks with Iran if it suspended uranium enrichment. US officials point to the recent deal with North Korea on its nuclear programme as proof that diplomatic pressure can work, our correspondent says.
Her comments came a day after Vice-President Dick Cheney renewed a warning that the use of force could be an option if Iran continued to defy the West. They also note that that deal should be a sign to the Iranians that the US is prepared to negotiate, she adds.
Meanwhile there has been criticism in Iran of Mr Ahmadinejad's comment that nuclear development was "a train on a one-way track with no room for stopping" .
Reformist newspapers said the metaphor was inappropriate because it suggested the programme was out of control.
Correspondents say the coverage is the latest sign of growing criticism of President Ahmadinejad and what some call his confrontational manner with the West.