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/middle_east/7074583.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Iran faces new sanctions threat Iran faces new sanctions threat
(39 minutes later)
Officials from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany have agreed to draft a third resolution for sanctions against Iran. Six world powers have agreed to draft a third resolution for sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme.
Representatives from the six countries met in London to discuss what action to take about Iran's nuclear programme. The UN Security Council will vote on the draft if UN and EU reports say Tehran's programme is continuing, the officials said after talks in London.
The draft will be put to the Security Council for a vote later in November if the next UN report finds that Tehran is continuing its nuclear programme. Officials from the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany will meet on 19 November to assess the reports.
Iran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, not to make weapons. Iran says its programme is for peaceful purposes only and denies accusations it is trying to develop nuclear weapons.
Some Western powers, led by the United States, accuse Iran of trying develop a nuclear weapon. In September, the permanent members of the Security Council agreed to delay a vote on further measures until the publication of a report in mid-November on Iran's activities by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA].
The US, Britain and France pushed for a third resolution but were blocked by China and Russia earlier this year. At Friday's meeting, the officials agreed to ask the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana to hold a further meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and report back.
In September, the permanent Security Council members agreed to delay a vote on further measures until the publication of a report in mid-November on Iran's activities by the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. The officials "agreed to finalise a text for a third UN Security Council sanctions resolution with the intention of bringing it to a vote in the UN Security Council unless the November reports of Dr Solana and [IAEA head Mohammed] ElBaradei show a positive outcome of the efforts," a spokesman from the British Foreign Office said.
The US, Britain and France pushed for a third resolution earlier this year but were blocked by China and Russia.
'Years from bomb''Years from bomb'
On Tuesday the US and France dismissed a statement by the IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei that there is no evidence of Iran building a bomb. Iran's former President, Hashemi Rafsanjani, said on Friday that talks between his country and the IAEA were making progress.
He said dialogue should be given more time and warned that any military action against Iran "will create another quagmire for the global arrogance of the United States".
Mr ElBaradei said on Sunday that Tehran was years away from developing a bomb - a statement dismissed by the US and France.
French Defence Minister Herve Morin challenged Iran to allow UN inspectors unlimited access to sites.French Defence Minister Herve Morin challenged Iran to allow UN inspectors unlimited access to sites.
US officials said Iran's efforts to enrich uranium rather than import it more cheaply, indicated that it really wanted nuclear weapons.US officials said Iran's efforts to enrich uranium rather than import it more cheaply, indicated that it really wanted nuclear weapons.
Mr ElBaradei said on Sunday that Tehran was years away from developing a bomb.
The IAEA has some access to Iranian nuclear facilities but Tehran's refusal to allow intrusive inspections means the UN cannot verify the absence of undeclared nuclear material.The IAEA has some access to Iranian nuclear facilities but Tehran's refusal to allow intrusive inspections means the UN cannot verify the absence of undeclared nuclear material.
There is tension between Western countries and Mr ElBaradei over an agreement he reached with Iran in August, drawing up a timetable for the country to answer questions about its past nuclear activities.There is tension between Western countries and Mr ElBaradei over an agreement he reached with Iran in August, drawing up a timetable for the country to answer questions about its past nuclear activities.
Mr ElBaradei says he will report to the IAEA's board in mid-November on how much information Iran has provided.Mr ElBaradei says he will report to the IAEA's board in mid-November on how much information Iran has provided.