Major powers fail to settle differences on Iran

WASHINGTON, Mar 4 (Reuters) Major powers failed to settle all their differences over a second UN sanctions resolution against Iran for its nuclear work but remain committed to passing one soon, the United States said.

''There is still some work to be done on a few outstanding issues, but all parties remain committed to a second resolution in the near future,'' State Department spokesman Kurtis Cooper said in a statement issued after the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany held a conference call to discuss a new UN Security Council resolution against Iran.

The United States and leading European countries suspect Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian atomic program. Tehran denies the charge and says its program is for generating electricity.

The new measures under discussion are a follow-up to a key Security Council resolution in December that imposed trade sanctions on sensitive nuclear materials and technology as well as other penalties after Iran refused to suspend uranium enrichment. The sanctions would be suspended if Iran complied.

The State Department was upbeat in a statement issued after yesterday's talks but they appeared to have fallen short of US hopes that the group -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States as well as Germany -- would be able to agree on the elements of a resolution during the conference call.

''They had a good discussion in keeping with the positive atmosphere of their conversations last week,'' Cooper said.

''Discussions will now move to New York, where our United Nations permanent representatives will take up work on the issue.'' Reuters DH VP0740