IPFS News Link • Iran
IPFS News Link • Iran
A senior U.S. official said Wednesday that Clinton had raised the prospect of new U.N. Security Council sanctions against Iran if it continues to defy demands to prove its nuclear program is peaceful in talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
They
spoke openly about how to pressure Iran, including taking action within
the U.N., the official said. The official, who spoke on condition of
anonymity to describe a private meeting, said the discussion was
constructive.
Russian news services reported after the talks that Lavrov showed lukewarm support for sanctions on Iran.
"Clearly,
we can't wait indefinitely, and our partners are talking about the need
to discuss additional steps in the U.N.," Lavrov was quoted as saying.
The
official declined to offer further details but said Iran is an
important element of Clinton's trip and that she would be raising the
same issue with the foreign ministers of China, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates while they all are in London for a conference on Afghanistan.
Iran argues its nuclear program is aimed at creating a peaceful nuclear energy network to serve its growing population. The U.S. and other nations believe Iran's nuclear program has the goal of creating atomic weapons.
The United States and its Western allies have been pushing for a fourth round of U.N. sanctions. But with Russia
and especially China skeptical of any new U.N. penalties, they must
tread carefully to maintain six-power unity on how to deal with the Islamic republic.