6 December 2006
World powers have apparently made "substantial progress" in shaping nuclear-related sanctions against Iran and are close to a package. Representatives of the five veto powers on the UN Security Council as well as Germany ended a series of meetings in Paris on Tuesday after making "substantive progress on the scope of the sanctions, targeting proliferation-sensitive activities," according to a statement by the French Foreign Ministry. It stated that there were "several outstanding issues, on which we will reflect over the coming days. We all agree on the necessity of adopting an effective resolution. We are now close to a conclusion of this process."
The statement said the next meeting would be in New York, but did not specify a date. France, Britain, Germany and the United States favor tough sanctions unless Iran stops enriching uranium, a key step toward making a nuclear bomb. Russia and China have so far been resisting such as moves.
Meanwhile, the Socialist candidate in the French presidential elections next year, S
