World powers mulling fresh Iran sanctions

LONDON  - The six powers negotiating with Iran over its nuclear plans have “no choice” but to seek further sanctions after Tehran’s “disappointing” response to an incentives offer, Britain said Wednesday.

“We are disappointed that Iran has failed to give (EU foreign policy chief) Javier Solana a positive response to the... generous package,” Junior Foreign Minister Kim Howells said in a statement.

The six powers “have agreed that, while informal contacts between Solana and (Iranian negotiator Saeed) Jalili will continue, we now have no choice but to pursue further sanctions against Iran, as part of our dual-track strategy.”

And he added: “Iran has a clear choice: engagement or isolation. We regret that Iran’s leaders appear to have chosen isolation.”

The comments came after diplomats from the six powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - held telephone talks to agree how to respond to Tehran’s unclear response to their offer to end the dispute.

“The... incentives package contains everything Iran needs to pursue a modern civil nuclear power programme, which Iran’s leaders claim is their aim, in addition to economic, educational, and scientific assistance,” Howells said.