US says still lacks support for sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON, Apr 19 (Reuters) The United States failed to secure backing for its campaign for targeted international sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programs at a meeting of major powers in Moscow.

The No. 3 State Department official, Nicholas Burns, told senior officials from Russia, China, Germany, France and Britain that sanctions should be imposed on Iran, especially after Tehran declared last week it was aiming for industrial-scale production of uranium, a US official said yesterday.

Russia and China opposed sanctions and the parties came to no consensus in Moscow, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said in Washington after being briefed by US officials about the meeting.

REUTERS PG PM0425