UN warns of new sanctions against Iran

The UN Security Council says it will move towards new sanctions against Iran if it does not respond to the UN-drafted nuclear fuel deal.

During a UN Security Council debate, the United States, Britain and France warned Tehran that it may face the measures over its nuclear program. But Russia and China hinted that they are not convinced more punitive steps are needed.

UN diplomats say that senior officials from the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, might meet as early as next week to discuss the issue.

They have offered to take Iran's low-enriched uranium and process it abroad into fuel for a civilian reactor. Iran has rejected the deal, and says it will build more centrifuges.

UN Security Council members vote in September 2009, at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Western envoys upped the pressure on Iran Thursday, threatening to push for new UN sanctions early next year if the Islamic republic continues to defy demands to halt sensitive nuclear fuel work.(AFP/File/Emmanuel Dunand)