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Powers to mull Iran censure plan Powers to discuss Iran sanctions
(about 11 hours later)
The US and UK are to push for sanctions against Iran as foreign ministers from six key nations hold talks in London on Tehran's nuclear programme. Six key nations holding talks in the UK on the Iranian nuclear crisis have agreed to discuss possible sanctions against the Islamic republic.
The five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany are meeting after the EU said it had failed to convince Iran to stop enriching uranium. UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said officials would "consult on measures" in the light of Iran's refusal to halt nuclear activities.
Ms Beckett spoke after discussions between the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany.
Despite fears it is developing nuclear arms, Iran says its aims are peaceful.Despite fears it is developing nuclear arms, Iran says its aims are peaceful.
Russia and China favour diplomacy, not sanctions. UN debate on punitive action could start as early as next week.Russia and China favour diplomacy, not sanctions. UN debate on punitive action could start as early as next week.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Friday that "the door to negotiations is and will be always open", despite saying earlier this week that little progress had been made in his "endless hours" of talks with Tehran. 'Time limited'
Iran's nuclear programme is popular with many in the countryIn Friday's comments he said the issue could only be solved through negotiations, although talks could not go on forever. Ms Beckett said the six powers were "deeply disappointed that... Iran is not prepared to suspend its enrichment related and reprocessing activities as required by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] board and made mandatory in [UN] Security Council resolution 1696.
The six nations had offered Iran a package of incentives in return for the suspension of its uranium enrichment programme. Iran's nuclear programme is popular with many in the country"Accordingly we will now consult on measures under article 41 of Chapter 7 of the UN Charter as envisaged in that resolution."
Article 41 authorises the Security Council to apply non-military means, such as economic or diplomatic sanctions, "to give effect to its decisions".
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said earlier that "the door to negotiations is and will be always open", despite saying earlier this week that little progress had been made in his "endless hours" of talks with Tehran.
He said the issue could only be solved through negotiations, although talks could not go on forever.
The six nations - the UK, Russia, China, France, the US and Germany - had offered Iran a package of incentives in return for the suspension of its uranium enrichment programme.
Iran missed a 31 August UN Security Council deadline to stop work, after which the US agreed to allow Mr Solana to continue talks with Tehran.Iran missed a 31 August UN Security Council deadline to stop work, after which the US agreed to allow Mr Solana to continue talks with Tehran.
But BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says the major powers now seem to accept that Iran is not prepared to meet their demand for a halt.But BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins says the major powers now seem to accept that Iran is not prepared to meet their demand for a halt.
He says the most likely outcome of Friday's meeting, to be chaired by Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett, is that the UN Security Council would start talks on a resolution on initial, modest sanctions next week.
'Extreme measures''Extreme measures'
But there are sharp differences between the six countries attending the meeting on the proposed sanctions. There are sharp differences between the six countries attending the meeting on what kind of sanctions to possibly impose on Iran.
The US and the UK favour immediate punitive sanctions, but in order to win over Russia and China, they are believed to be considering a series of low-level sanctions as a first step. Tehran says it will not give up its nuclear programmeThe US and the UK favour immediate punitive sanctions, but in order to win over Russia and China, they are believed to be considering a series of low-level sanctions as a first step.
Tehran says it will not give up its nuclear programmeThese would be what British officials describe as incremental, proportional and reversible. These would be what British officials describe as incremental, proportional and reversible.
They could include travel restrictions on Iranian officials and embargoes on missile and nuclear technology that could have dual civilian-military use.They could include travel restrictions on Iranian officials and embargoes on missile and nuclear technology that could have dual civilian-military use.
A Bush administration official said the meeting was expected to agree "the political decision to move to the next step of diplomacy, which is a sanctions resolution".
But China and Russia have both said diplomacy is still the best way to achieve a solution.But China and Russia have both said diplomacy is still the best way to achieve a solution.
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described sanctions as "extreme measures".On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described sanctions as "extreme measures".
He said he would like to "see what extra possibilities exist to pursue multiparty diplomatic efforts".He said he would like to "see what extra possibilities exist to pursue multiparty diplomatic efforts".
Russia has built a nuclear power station in Iran and China relies on oil imports from the country.Russia has built a nuclear power station in Iran and China relies on oil imports from the country.
'Not one iota'
Correspondents say the aim of the meeting is to show that the key international powers on the issue are united, as Iran is seeking to divide them.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said Iran would not be intimidated and would not "give up one iota" of its nuclear work.
Enriched uranium is used as fuel for nuclear reactors, but it can also be further enriched to make nuclear bombs.
Iran argues it needs nuclear power and insists its intentions are peaceful.