Saturday, March 11 2006 15:00 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: The five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council have failed to agree on how to force Iran abandon its uranium enrichment plans, but decided to continue their discussion on the issue.

The second round of talks among the US, Britain, Russia, France and China came in the shadow of statements by top American officials, including its UN Ambassador John Bolton, indicating that Washington might look outside the world body if the Council failed to take a firm action against Tehran.

"This is a test for the Council. And if the Iranian do not back off from their continued aggressive pursuit of nuclear weapons, we will have to make a decision what the nextstep will be," Bolton told reporters when asked how the US would react if the Council fails to take a strong stand as demanded by it.

"We will think of other option," to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, he said.

The US, Britain and France want the Council to issue a tough statement which would give Iran limited time to prove that its has abandoned the uranium enrichment plans, diplomats participating in the discussion said.

But Russia and China would like a mild statement as they fear that the tough stand could aversely affect the talks with Iran to resolve the issue.

Diplomats expect the Council to issue a statement sometime next week. After the five agree on a statement, they would consult remaining 10 non-permanent members but officials say that would only be a formality. They expect consultations among the capitals over the weekend could help finalise the statement early next week.

Chinese UN Ambassador Wang Guangya said after talks lasting some 90 minutes that they are discussing to strengthen the role of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Council has taken up the issue for the first time following reference by IAEA.

Britain and France yesterday circulated a draft of a statement which, diplomats say, calls on Tehran to stop its uranium enrichment activities as also construction of heavy water reactors. The enriched uranium can be used for both power production and in the making of nuclear bomb depending on the degree of enrichment.

The draft, they say, also asks IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei to report on compliance within a limited timeframe which, according to one suggestion, should be two weeks. But diplomats expect the statement would give a longer time period.

In the face of opposition from Russia and China, diplomats say the US, UK and France are unlikely to insist that some sort of threat be made to give strong backing to IAEA.

Diplomats say should the five fail to agree on the text, the United States might try to forge a coalition outside the UN to impose at least symbolic sanctions.

Otherwise also, the Council would have to face the question of what to do if Iran continues to defy its demands.

The next logical step, if Iran fails to heed and IAEA reports non-compliance, would be a resolution demanding that Tehran end its suspected nuclear programmes or face action which could be non-economic sanctions like banning travel by its top officials.

The permanent five members of the Council have decided to continue their discussions on the issue.