NEW YORK: Diplomats from six key powers focused on possible new sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme at a meeting yesterday, but reached no agreement.

Robert Cooper, the European Union’s political director who chaired the meeting, said the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany concluded “that Iran has failed to follow up” on an agreement in principle in October that Tehran exchange uranium for nuclear fuel, “in particular by refusing further meetings to discuss the nuclear issue.” He said the six nations remain committed to a “dual track” approach to Iran to try to defuse global fears over its nuclear programme - diplomatic and political engagement on the one hand and possible new sanctions if Tehran refuses to rein in its nuclear ambitions. “That implies that we will continue to seek a negotiated

solution, but consideration of appropriate further measures has also begun,” Cooper told reporters after the 2 1/2-hour closed-door meeting.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the six powers “reconfirmed our desire” to meet again with the Iranians to discuss their October proposal. A senior diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were private, said the message to Iran from the meeting is that time is running out. Iran argues that its nuclear programme is aimed at creating a peaceful nuclear energy network to serve its growing population. The US and other nations believe Iran’s nuclear programme has the goal of creating atomic weapons. Cooper said yesterday’s meeting was “for stock-taking and to see the way ahead.” Russia’s Ryabkov said “the meeting is inconclusive in a sense that we didn’t make any decisions right away.”