The five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany ended discussions on Monday in London regarding further moves necessary to ensure Iran complies with demands to end its nuclear program.

The talks came after the UN nuclear watchdog confirmed Iran had ignored a deadline to suspend nuclear activities.

At the meeting, the top diplomats from Britain, France, China, Russia, the United States, and Germany agreed to begin work on a new UN Security Council resolution on Iran over its nuclear program but were still committed to seeking a negotiated solution, British officials said.

John Sawers, the British Foreign Office political director who chaired the closed one-day meeting, issued a statement afterwards, saying: "We had a productive first discussion of the next steps following the director general of the IAEA's confirmation that Iran has failed to comply with SCR 1737."

"We began work on a new Security Council Resolution building on Resolution 1737, and also considered how best to re-engage with Iran. We are all committed to seeking a negotiated solution," he added.

But, he explained that no final decisions were made and stressed there would be further contacts between these nations later this week.

(Xinhua News Agency February 27, 2007)