UNITED STATES:THE SIX powers leading negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme yesterday papered over their differences to agree a new Security Council draft resolution reaffirming existing UN sanctions against Tehran.
The move follows concerns that Russia would temper its co-operation with the five other countries - the United States, Britain, France, China and Germany - tasked with formulating the international community's response to Iran's nuclear ambitions, as a result of the fallout over its invasion of Georgia last month.
Speaking after the six met on the sidelines of the UN general assembly, British foreign secretary David Miliband said a short resolution would be presented later in the day.
It would, he added, reaffirm "existing resolutions and the unity" of the six powers.
He said the consensus on the draft showed the sextet's "determination to take forward that strategy with further discussions and further steps".
Diplomats welcomed the agreement as an important sign of unity on Iran, given recent tensions between the US and Moscow.
Foreign ministers of the six powers had planned to meet at UN headquarters on Thursday to discuss prospects for further sanctions against Tehran. But that meeting was cancelled after Russia complained that Washington sought to "punish" it following the war in Georgia.
Despite yesterday's show of unity, China and Russia remain reluctant to impose fresh sanctions on Iran, as urged by the US.
The UN Security Council has already levelled three rounds of sanctions against Tehran for defying its calls to cease the enrichment of uranium and for refusing to answer questions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
In a recent report, the IAEA stated that without further information and assistance from Tehran, it cannot provide assurances about Iran's nuclear programme to the international community.
In his address to the annual UN general assembly debate on Tuesday, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed that Tehran would continue to pursue atomic technology despite what he described as western "bullying".
Iran "will resist the bullying and has defended and will continue to defend its rights," Mr Ahmadinejad warned.
In another development, Saudi Arabia, the Arab League and the Palestinian Authority yesterday called on the Security Council to rescue the foundering Middle East peace process by demanding that Israel stop the construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank.
The demand was made at a Security Council debate on the issue convened at Saudi Arabia's request. It took place the same day that the so-called Quartet - comprising the UN, US, EU and Russia - met to assess the state of the peace process at a time of political upheaval in the region.
UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon wants to get Israeli-Palestinian dialogue back on track and see progress towards reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.
In his address to the UN general assembly earlier this week, Israeli president Shimon Peres argued that despite "stagnation and regression and failure" in the peace process, "Israelis and Arabs are marching toward peace".