6 world powers meet about Iran nuclear issue
By The Associated Press
This article was published November 20, 2009 at 7:30 a.m.
BRUSSELS, Belgium — Representatives of six world powers met in Brussels on Friday to discuss possible measures against Tehran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities.
The European Union said senior diplomats from the U.N. Security Council’s five permanent members plus Germany took part in the talks.
President Barack Obama said Thursday the six nations will develop a package of serious new punitive measures in coming weeks. He did not give details of any possible measures under consideration.
On Wednesday, Tehran announced it would not export its enriched uranium for further processing, effectively rejecting the latest plan brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency and aimed at delaying Iran’s ability to build a nuclear weapon.
The meeting in Brussels involved political directors — Foreign Ministry officials below ministerial level, EU spokeswoman Cristina Gallach said. It was supposed to take stock of the situation, and no decisions would be made, she said.
The United States was represented by Undersecretary of State William Burns, and Russia by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov.
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Manochehr Mottaki played down the threat of sanctions saying embargoes had proved ineffective in the past.
“I think they are wise enough not to repeat failed experiences,” Mottaki told reporters in Manila, the Philippines.
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