Sanctions Against Iran

US officials said agreement has been reached to "go to sanctions"against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, and said details will be worked out next week in drafting a resolution for the UN Security Council.

US Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns spoke to reporters late Friday after the five permanent members of the council plus Germany met to discuss the way forward over Iran's uranium enrichment -- a process that can produce weapons-grade fuel.

Following talks in London Friday evening, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said the countries' foreign ministers had agreed "to consult on economic sanctions" against Iran, and to continue to keep the door open for negotiations.

According to a transcript released in Washington, Burns was more specific, saying: "The decision has been made we'll go for sanctions."

Ministers "deeply disappointed" with Iran

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said moves would likely include "soft sanctions" such as restrictions on strategic military or civilian goods, or travel restrictions for government officials.

Beckett said the ministers were "deeply disappointed" that Tehran had refused to suspend its enrichment activities.

The six nations, including China and Russia, agreed to consult on measures under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter, which allows for economic sanctions.

Efforts to find a negotiated solution would continue and an offer made to Iran in June remained on the table to help it develop a civil nuclear program, Beckett said.

In her brief statement after the meeting at Lancaster House in London, Beckett said that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had reported that his talks with Iran's chief negotiator, Ali Larijani, had failed to secure a breakthrough.

"We are deeply disappointed that he has had to report that Iran is not prepared to suspend its enrichment activities," she said.

Discussions to begin next week

The foreign ministers of Britain, France, the United States, Russia and China, as well as Germany, met to discuss the implications of Iran's refusal to comply with a Security Council resolution calling on it to suspend uranium enrichment or face possible sanctions.

Political directors on the issue are to consult by Tuesday or Wednesday by videoconference to resolve any unaddressed questions, before the permanent representatives to the UN begin working on the resolution, Burns added.

"I think there's going to be a spirited debate about what kind of sanctions should be finally agreed," Burns said. "But ... I don't believe it's going to be held up forever, and I do think we're going to have a sanctions resolution.'

Tehran has already defied an Aug. 31 UN deadline to halt enrichment and rejects this demand as a precondition for returning to negotiations.

Some Security Council members, primarily the US and Britain, favor the imposition of sanctions while others, especially China and Russia, are eager to allow more time for a diplomatic solution to the impasse.

Russia in a statement issued prior to the meeting reiterated its opposition to the imposition of sanctions, or to the use of violence against Iran.