The United States wants the UN Security Council to begin talks next week on a draft resolution that sets out sanctions against Iran for its nuclear activities, US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said today.
But it was far from clear whether other major world powers supported Washington's push to penalise Tehran for defying a UN demand that it freeze uranium enrichment by August 31st.
Speaking a day after meeting fellow political directors from Germany, Britain, France, China and Russia in Berlin, Burns said more talks on Iran would take place over the phone on Monday.
"The American view is that following these discussions on Monday and perhaps some others early next week, we should move this to the Security Council and draft a (sanctions) resolution," he told reporters.
But France said there was no point in rushing the Iran issue back to the Council without any certainty that it would result in a decision.
"There is not much point in going to the Security Council to display our divisions," Foreign Ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.
Mr Burns, however, made it clear that Washington wanted to move fast and hoped there would be a draft resolution ready for the start of the UN General Assembly, whose participants arrive in New York during the week of September 18th.
Burns said penalties should target Iran's government and nuclear industry, not the Iranian people, but acknowledged that no agreement had been reached on specific sanctions.
An EU memorandum earlier this year said sanctions could include trade restrictions, freezing of assets and visa bans for officials, diplomats and scientists.
Veto-wielding council members China and Russia have expressed reluctance to impose sanctions on Iran, which denies trying to develop nuclear arms.
At their meeting in Berlin, the powers agreed Iran had failed to meet a Security Council demand to freeze enrichment by August 31st and discussed "next steps" to be taken at the council.