UN security council members and Germany weigh new sanctions on Iran

Washington: A US official said the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany have agreed to begin considering new sanctions on Iran after it failed to respond positively to an incentives package aimed at defusing the dispute over its nuclear programme.

The official said the decision to move ahead came during a conference call on Wednesday between European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana and senior diplomats from the six nations that offered the incentives.

The official said the diplomats agreed that Iran appears to be stalling and that they have no choice but to pursue new punitive measures. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because an announcement has not yet been made.