Special report: Iran Nuclear Crisis

Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai speaks to reporters upon his arrival at the international convention center in Paris, capital of France, May 2, 2006. Representatives from China, Britain, France, Russia, the United States and Germany met here on Tuesday to discuss the Iran nuclear issue but did not reach a consensus. (Xinhua photo)

    PARIS, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The five veto-wielding permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany failed to reach an agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue at a half-day meeting ending here on Tuesday night.

    The six nations did not reach consensus on a Security Council resolution with regard to Iran's nuclear issue based on Chapter 7 of the UN Charter that would lay ground work for imposing sanctions upon Iran, said U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicolas Burns.

    He added the issue would be discussed again at a meeting held in New York on May 9.

    Before the meeting in Paris, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai told reporters that the representatives would mainly exchange views on the Iranian nuclear issue. He added China favored a peaceful settlement by means of diplomacy and negotiation.

    Burns said the international community should deliver a strong warning to Tehran. But he added it has not been put on the agenda whether sanctions would be imposed on the Iranian oil and gas industry.

    In his report to the UN Security Council on Friday, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said Iran had failed to halt its uranium enrichment activities within the prescribed 30-day period as required by the Security Council on March 29.

    Iran resumed its nuclear fuel research in January and uranium enrichment activities the following month. Enditem