U.S. says to continue double-track process on Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States views a meeting on Iran held Saturday in New York as constructive, and is determined to continue the double-track process, the State Department said Tuesday.

Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said the meeting is part of the P5+1's conversations on available options towards Iran. The countries are developing options "on the pressure track, at the same time the door's open for further dialogue with Iran."

The world powers have approached the Iran situation with a double-track approach that involves engagement and pressure.

"We thought it was a constructive meeting, and we'll continue this process," Crowley said. He accused Iran of not "willing to engage us seriously."

The United States, France, Russia, Britain, and China -- plus Germany (P5+1) on Saturday held discussions on Iranian nuclear issue in New York, the first such meeting since Iran missed a deadline set up by the West to accept a U.N. backed uranium swap deal. The meeting ended with no clear agreement.