Moscow denies sanctions deal after Iran snub

Russia yesterday denied having agreed with the US, UK and other countries to push for another round of economic sanctions against Iran at the United Nations.

US and British officials said there would be a push for further sanctions after Tehran sidestepped an initiative aimed at launching negotiations over its disputed nuclear programme.

Washington called Iran's response "unacceptable", Germany said it was "inadequate". Kim Howells, a British foreign minister, said there was "no choice but to pursue further sanctions against Iran".

Vitaly Churkin, Russia's ambassador to the UN, dismissed reports that the powers had agreed on a path to more sanctions, saying there had been "no firm agreements or understandings".

"The main thing to remember [is] that the negotiating track is open, it is being pursued, there are contacts between the parties," Mr Churkin was cited as saying by Reuters.

His comments followed yesterday's telephone conference call on the Iranian nuclear issue between Javier Solana, the European Union's foreign policy chief, and senior officials from the six powers pushing to negotiate an end to Iran's uranium enrichment programme, which include China, France and Russia.

They discussed a one-page letter from Saeed Jalili, Iran's senior nuclear negotiator, received on Tuesday, which they had hoped would respond to their proposal.

This proposal, which has US backing, suggested a six-week period in which the powers would halt efforts to secure new sanctions in return for Iranian agreement not to augment its uranium enrichment programme.

During this period, known as "freeze for freeze", the two sides would discuss how to start negotiations proper, which would begin once Iran stopped enriching uranium altogether. But Mr Jalili's letter, which, said one official, covered just one side of paper in large-type English and a half page in Farsi, did not state Iran's position on freeze for freeze and instead repeated Iran's desire for broader security discussions.

That was rejected by London, Washington, Paris and Berlin, and appears to have disappointed Russia and China, which have taken a softer line towards Iran.

"We're very disappointed that Iran has failed yet again to give Javier Solana a clear answer to the . . . generous incentives package," said Gonzalo Gallegos of the state department. A British official said the response was "at the lowest end of expectations".

At the UN, Mr Churkin said: "We would have preferred a clear yes. But it is more complicated than that . . . We do believe that dialogue can continue."

Talks over a fourth round of UN sanctions are unlikely to begin before September.