French FM: 6 powers nearing accord on Iran resolution

Douste-Blazy says Russia has agreed to adopt sanctions against Teheran's proliferation program.

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
lavrov 298.88 (photo credit: Associated Press)
lavrov 298.88
(photo credit: Associated Press)
The six powers seeking a UN resolution on Iran's nuclear program are nearing agreement on a text, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said Monday. High-ranking diplomats from the UN Security Council's five permanent members plus Germany will meet in Paris on Tuesday to discuss measures to punish Iran for its nuclear program. "We want to reach as broad an agreement as possible in the UN Security Council," Douste-Blazy said in Brussels, according to the French Foreign Ministry. "Therefore we are gathering tomorrow in Paris, to discuss the text." "I think that we should now reach agreement on this," Douste-Blazy said. He gave no details of the possible text. Douste-Blazy said he discussed the Iranian situation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. "We are in agreement with Russia to adopt sanctions against Iran's proliferation program," Douste-Blazy said. A representative of EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana was expected to join Tuesday's talks in Paris with political directors of the foreign ministries of Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany, "for an update on the Iranian nuclear file," ministry spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei told reporters Monday.