World powers to work on new UN resolution on Iran

BRITAIN: World powers agreed to work on a new U.N. Security Council resolution to put pressure on Iran over its nuclear programme but remained committed to seeking a negotiated solution, British officials said.

Few details emerged from the London meeting but U.S. State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said the world powers would hold phone talks on Thursday “at which time they hope to be able to hammer out the elements of a U.N. sanctions resolution”.

Iran dug in its heels over its atomic programme as the world powers met to discuss tightening U.N. sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

The five permanent veto-wielding United Nations Security Council members — the United States, France, Russia, China and Britain — plus Germany met against a background of rising international tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

The statement that the major powers were still committed to a negotiated solution followed Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comments earlier on Monday that he was worried by more frequent talk of possible U.S. military strikes against Iran.

“We had a productive first discussion of the next steps ... We began work on a new Security Council resolution,” said John Sawers, political director of the British Foreign Office.

“We also considered how best to re-engage with Iran. We are all committed to seeking a negotiated solution,” he said in a statement.

In Washington, White House spokesman Tony Snow said: “The United States continues to work with its allies on finding ways to make clear ... (if Iran continues) along the path that could lead to nuclear weapons they’re going to pay a cost, and that it’s an unacceptable outcome for the international community.”

But Snow said the United States saw the concerted diplomatic activity and pressure that brought North Korea back to the negotiating table over its nuclear programme as a possible template for dealing with Iran.

The tension over Iran’s nuclear programme kept oil over $61 a barrel on Monday, weighed on the dollar and drove safe-haven bonds and gold higher.

Meanwhile President Ahmadinejad faced a new round of sharp criticism at home after he said Iran’s nuclear program is an unstoppable train without brakes. Reformers and conservatives said such tough talk only inflames the West as it considers further sanctions.

The criticism came even as new signs have arisen that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is growing discontented with Ahmadinejad, whom he is believed to have supported in 2005 presidential elections.

Last week, Khamenei voiced rare criticism of the domestic performance of Ahmadinejad’s government, and the president was notably absent when a group of Cabinet members and vice presidents met with Khamenei, who has the final word in all political affairs in Iran, including the nuclear issue.

The increasing criticism reflects public worries about the course of the country’s confrontation with the United States and the West. Washington has taken a more aggressive stance toward Iran, building up the U.S. military presence in the Gulf and accusing Tehran of backing militants in Iraq. That has heightened fears among Iranians of possible U.S. military action.

London, Tehran, Tuesday, Reuters, AP