U.N. discussed Iran sanctions

MOSCOW – A U.S. diplomat said Tuesday that envoys from the five permanent Security Council members plus Germany discussed sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program, but failed to reach agreement on how to proceed further.

U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told the Associated Press following nearly three hours of talks that diplomats recognized the “need for a stiff response to Iran’s flagrant violations of its international responsibilities.”

Burns, speaking in Moscow, said sanctions had been discussed during the meeting hosted by Russia but indicated that further talks would be needed.

Burns gave no specifics as to the type or timing of sanctions and he refused to say whether Russia had softened its opposition to sanctions against Iran. But he reiterated that the United States expected action in the Security Council after an April 28 deadline for Iran to stop uranium enrichment.