Key European nations warned that Iran is trying to split up the international community over its contentious nuclear program by stalling and giving unclear responses to the terms set by world powers for negotiations.
A closed meeting was held in Berlin of the 5 UN Security Council nations plus Germany to coordinate strategy over Iran's refusal to halt uranium enrichment.
Javier Solona, the EU's foreign policy chief, is expected to hold nuclear talks with Iranian envoy Ali Larijani on Saturday in a final effort to find common ground for negotiations between Iran and the 6 powers.
Manouchehr Mottaki, Iran's foreign minister, said that the Saturday meeting is not likely to resolve the disagreement over the scope and agenda of the broader negotiations.
Britain's UN ambassador said that "unless Solana is able to get Iranian movement on suspension of enrichment quickly, then the prospect of sanctions against Iran will be on the (Security) Council agenda soon.”
He also said that the 6 powers agree on the ultimate goal of denying Iran nuclear weapons and the strategy.
The assessment of Iran's response to incentives from the Western powers was a one and a half page document labeled "In Confidence". It summarized the technical, economic and political rewards offered to Iran and warned of punishments including UN sanctions if Tehran doesn't halt uranium enrichment.
Though Iran's response has been kept confidential, US and its allies have described it as inadequate and a document drawn up by Britain, France and Germany highlights that the Iranian response is along previous lines in that it neither accepts nor rejects outright.
Iran's goal is thought to be to involve the international community in talks about talks while continuing on its enrichment program. Its unyielding stance appears to be powered by the belief that China and Russia, both veto-wielding Security Council members will oppose the sanctions.
Besides Iran's no suspension before negotiation stance, it has also demanded the "termination" of Security Council involvement in its nuclear file.
While Iran continues to insist that its enrichment program is for generation of nuclear power, the Western powers are focused on imposing sanctions following the deadline.
Russia averred that any sanctions must exclude military force giving rise to the opinion that Moscow was contemplating the possibility of sanctions. The US and European diplomats have said that initially they will use low-level punishments such as travel bans and bans on the sale of dual-use technology to get backing from Russia and China.
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