The United States led pressure today for Iran to face UN action after it defied calls for an early response to an offer of incentives aimed at ending a nuclear standoff.
Talks between chief Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana ended with both sides showing frustration and Tehran insisting it needed more time to consider sweeteners for it to halt uranium enrichment.
Washington said major powers, whose foreign ministers meet in Paris on Wednesday, had previously agreed to deal with Tehran at the United Nations if it failed to reply. Britain expected ministers would take a decision in Paris on the next steps.
"Ministers when they meet tomorrow will have to take a decision as to what that means for the resolution on the table," British UN envoy Emyr Jones Parry said in New York. He was referring to work on a resolution against Iran that had been delayed to allow Tehran to respond to the June 6th offer.
Russia and China had been reluctant to back any resolution they feared could lead to sanctions or even military action. Expectations for a breakthrough at the talks had been low after Iran repeatedly said it was not ready to give a reply. "We must be patient and try to negotiate ... We must allow more time for negotiations to work," Mr Larijani said after his four-hour discussions with Solana on a package of technology, trade and political incentives.
"The meeting was disappointing," said Mr Solana's spokeswoman, adding that the EU was not satisfied with the meeting but expected to have further contacts with Iran.