World powers meet on Iran, Russia opposes ultimatum
Fri Oct 6, 2006 1:23pm ET172
siliconinvestor.com
London meeting must encourage Iran to talks: Lavrov
No decision likely Friday on Iran sanctions: U.S.
By Sophie Walker
LONDON (Reuters) - Six world powers met on Friday to discuss U.S. and British proposals for possible sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, but Russia said it agreed with China no ultimatum should be issued to Tehran.
The United States, backed by Britain, has suggested it is time to consider a U.N. Security Council resolution to impose sanctions after four months of talks between the EU and Tehran failed to yield an Iranian promise to halt atomic work.
But Russia and China, two of the six powers, agreed it was "absolutely unacceptable" to threaten force against Iran and that talk of ultimatums was counter-productive, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev was quoted as saying.
Before going into Friday's ministerial-level meeting in London, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she was "not anticipating any major decisions" from the talks between Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.
"The principal thing we are hoping for is a much clearer picture. What we want today is a full clear report from (European Union foreign policy chief) Javier (Solana) ... so we can all take stock of where we stand," Beckett told reporters.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov entered the meeting without talking to reporters about the standoff with Iran. Tehran says its nuclear programme is only for power generation but the West suspects it wants to make a nuclear bomb.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was running late for the meeting because of a mechanical problem with her military aircraft, and a U.S. State Department official said ministers were unlikely to reach a decision on Friday.
U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns took Rice's place at the meeting until her arrival. Continued... |
