Six powers to pursue Iran sanction talks: US

WASHINGTON: Six key powers working to curb Iran's nuclear activities will continue talks this week on imposing new sanctions against the Islamic state for its alleged pursuit of atomic weapons, a top US official said on Tuesday.

US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told reporters that the six powers would meet on Wednesday and Thursday, following "constructive talks" which he chaired last week in Washington.

At Friday's four-and-a-half-hour talks, political directors for the six countries' foreign ministries "discussed the elements of a third resolution" of sanctions, Burns said, but "we did not come to an agreement."

"We said we would continue those talks again on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, leading up to the ministerial meeting" on the issue scheduled for Friday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. "Probably both days," he added.

The United Nations Security Council has passed three resolutions against Iran, two of them imposing sanctions after Iran refused to heed its ultimatums to suspend uranium enrichment.

The six powers -- the Security Council's permanent members China, France, Russia, Britain, the European Union and the United States, plus Germany -- are now mulling US proposals for further measures, amid ongoing defiance by Tehran.

Iran vehemently rejects the US charges it is seeking an atomic weapon, saying the nuclear drive is aimed solely at generating energy for a growing population.