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World Powers Begin Work On New Iran Resolution

February 27, 2007 -- Diplomats from key world powers have begun work on a new UN Security Council resolution regarding Iran's disputed nuclear program.

Britain's Foreign Office said diplomats from the five permanent UN Security Council members, plus Germany, held "productive" and "serious" discussions" on the next steps to take during their meeting in London on February 26.

The U.S. State Department said diplomats would hold a telephone conference on March 1.

"We hope that they [Iranians] take that pathway of negotiation. There is an offer out on the table. Secretary [of State Condoleezza] Rice has reiterated that over the past couple of days in some very strong statements that she has made," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said. "But we are equally committed to sending the message to the Iranian government, [that] should they choose not to proceed down that pathway, then there will be consequences, and those consequences will be diplomatic isolation from the rest of the world."

On February 25, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad said Iran's nuclear program was like a train "which has no brake and no reverse gear."

The UN's nuclear agency reported last week that Iran had ignored a Security Council ultimatum to freeze its uranium-enrichment program.

(Reuters, AP, AFP, dpa)

Copyright (c) 2007. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org