This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/5411694.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Ministers mull next steps on Iran Powers to mull Iran censure plan
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign ministers from six key nations are to hold talks in London on next steps - and possible sanctions - in the row over Iran's nuclear activities. 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.
The meeting comes after the EU said it had failed to convince Tehran to stop enriching uranium. 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.
Several countries fear Iran is developing nuclear weapons, but it says its nuclear programme is peaceful. Despite fears it is developing nuclear arms, Iran says its aims are peaceful.
The US and the UK have been pushing for sanctions against Iran, but Russia and China favour continued diplomacy. Russia and China favour diplomacy, not sanctions. UN debate on punitive action could start as early as next week.
The UN Security Council members - the US, UK, France, Russia and China - plus Germany had offered Iran a package of incentives in return for the suspension of its uranium enrichment programme. 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.
Iran's nuclear programme is popular with many in the countryBut Iran missed a 31 August UN Security Council deadline to stop work. 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.
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said on Thursday that he had made little progress in talks with Tehran since then. The six nations had offered Iran a package of incentives in return for the suspension of its uranium enrichment programme.
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. 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.
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.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.But there are sharp differences between the six countries attending the meeting on the proposed sanctions.
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.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 programmeThese would be what British officials describe as incremental, proportional and reversible.Tehran says it will not give up its nuclear programmeThese 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.
But China and Russia both have said diplomacy is still the best way to achieve a solution. 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.
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.
Mr Solana said the door to dialogue with Tehran should stay open for now.
'Not one iota''Not one iota'
Observers say the chief purpose of Friday's meeting, however, may be to clear the air between the powers, particularly between Moscow and Washington over Russia's current row with Georgia. 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.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.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.Iran argues it needs nuclear power and insists its intentions are peaceful.