Big six: Iran sanctions possible

LONDON, England (AP) -- Six world powers agreed Friday to pursue possible U.N. sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, but left crucial questions about the scope and timing of any measures unresolved.

Top diplomats from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia said in a joint statement after talks in London that they were "deeply disappointed" by Tehran's refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a key step toward making nuclear weapons.

Apparently divided about how quickly to move, the envoys stopped short of explicitly declaring European negotiations with Iran a failure, as some had expected them to do.

Their statement also shied away from demanding Tehran be punished by the U.N. Security Council, but said they would discuss sanctions in talks at the U.N.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns went further.

"The decision has been made that we'll go for sanctions, the question is what the sanctions will be," he said after the meeting. "In the view of the United States, we have to move for sanctions to raise the stakes for Iran."

Reading the diplomats' joint statement, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Iran had two choices when the United Nations demanded it halt enrichment activities.

"We regret that Iran has not yet taken the positive one," she said.

Beckett said the six powers "will now consult on measures under Article 41 of Chapter 7 of the U.N. Charter." Article 41 authorizes the Security Council to impose nonmilitary sanctions such as completely or partially severing diplomatic and economic relations, transportation and communications links.

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