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UN to press Iran on nuclear talks UN to press Iran on nuclear talks
(20 minutes later)
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said the UN Security Council will make a fresh attempt to persuade Iran to discuss its nuclear programme.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said the UN Security Council will make a fresh attempt to persuade Iran to discuss its nuclear programme.
Speaking in Berlin, Ms Rice said the US, Russia, Germany and the EU agreed to use the UN and other means to get Iran back to the negotiating table.Speaking in Berlin, Ms Rice said the US, Russia, Germany and the EU agreed to use the UN and other means to get Iran back to the negotiating table.
It comes as the UN's nuclear watchdog is due to report on whether Iran has halted uranium enrichment activities.It comes as the UN's nuclear watchdog is due to report on whether Iran has halted uranium enrichment activities.
A 60-day deadline set by the UN for Iran to desist expired on Wednesday. Iran denies Western claims its is secretly trying to build nuclear arms.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful purposes, denying Western claims it is secretly trying to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says its nuclear programme is for purely peaceful, energy-producing purposes.
After talks with her Russian, German and EU counterparts, Ms Rice said efforts would continue to be made to encourage Iran to stop its nuclear work and resume negotiations. Key report
After talks with her Russian, German and EU counterparts, Ms Rice said efforts would continue to be made to encourage Iran to stop its nuclear work and resume talks.
"We reconfirmed that we will use our available channels and the Security Council to try and achieve that goal," she said."We reconfirmed that we will use our available channels and the Security Council to try and achieve that goal," she said.
Earlier, US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, told the BBC that, if Iran would not negotiate, more pressure would be the only option. A 60-day deadline set by the UN for Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities expired on Wednesday.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the UN's nuclear watchdog, is expected to report on Thursday that Iran has failed to comply with the UN's demands.
Iran could face fresh sanctions in addition to measures targeting its nuclear and missiles programmes imposed by the UN in December.
US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, Nicholas Burns, told the BBC that, if Iran would not negotiate, more pressure would be the only option.
"If they're [Iran] not willing to accept the offer made by Britain and the United States, and Russia and China and France and Germany, that we all negotiate... then I think Iran is going to face an ever-increasing set of international sanctions and pressure," Mr Burns said."If they're [Iran] not willing to accept the offer made by Britain and the United States, and Russia and China and France and Germany, that we all negotiate... then I think Iran is going to face an ever-increasing set of international sanctions and pressure," Mr Burns said.