US to work towards sanctions against Iran

WASHINGTON: Hailing the UN Security Council resolution asking Iran to halt its controversial nuclear programme, the United States has said that it would work towards a sanctions resolution if Tehran fails to comply.

"If Iran does not comply with Resolution 1696, if it continues on the path of defiance, the United States and other Member States will work towards a sanctions resolution under Chapter VII of the UN Charter," a statement issued by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said.

"We hope that Iran makes the strategic decision to pursue negotiations and cooperation. The P5+1 package remains on the table. We reiterate our offer to join negotiations as soon as Iran fully and verifiably suspends its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. It is up to Iran to decide what path to take" it said.

Separately, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has said that she is both "satisfied and confident" as the Resolution is very similar to what had been discussed in Paris recently.

"We've been in substantial agreement for really several days and the kind of crowded calendar at the UN Security Council around other issues, I think its passage today shows that the Security Council is able to act and able to act in spite of the many, many challenges that it's facing. I mean, it's facing a lot of different issues and still it's able to act" she said.

"I'm also confident that we have very good cooperation with Russia and China on this issue. Every time we've met at foreign ministers we've moved the ball forward. We made a clear statement out of Paris as to what we were going to do because the Vienna accords had not been -- the Vienna agreement had not been taken up by the Iranians. We made very clear at Paris what we were going to do and now we've done it" Rice said.