By NNN-PTI
United Nations : In a reprieve for Iran, the six major powers have agreed to wait until mid-November before pushing for tougher sanctions against the country to force it to abandon its uranium enrichment activities, dealing a blow to US-backed efforts to step up the heat on Tehran.
Foreign ministers of the US, Britain, France, permanent members (P-5) of the Security Council, and Germany yesterday failed to convince Russia and China, the other two P-5 countries with veto power, to back effort to strengthen the embargo connected to its controversial nuclear programme immediately.
A joint statement from the P5 1 said they would finalize the new resolution on a third round of sanctions and bring it to a vote unless reports in November from the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency and EU foreign policy Javier Solana chief “show a positive outcome of their efforts.” However, Under Secretary of State Nicholas Burns claimed the statement sent “a very tough and strict message to Iran.” At the meeting, diplomats and officials said, the US pushed for quick action but Russia sought time for negotiations to resolve the issue.
The six agreed to ask Solana to hold discussions with Iran’s national security chief Al Larijani while the IAEA tries to clear up issues about the Iranian nuclear programme.
IAEA’s next report is expected sometime in November.