The six powers gathering in London on Friday to discuss Iran’s nuclear programme are not expected to make a decision on imposing sanctions against Tehran because of United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s late arrival, the US State Department said.
State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said ”we don’t have the time” to make a decision because Rice is arriving late as a result of a mechanical problem with her military aircraft.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also has to attend a Russian Cabinet meeting.
McCormick said the officials of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany are likely to hold a conference call on Monday or Tuesday to discuss the issue further.
Saying he could not predict what decision would ultimately be made, McCormack said: ”At the earliest it wouldn’t be until then.”
Rice is likely to arrive about one hour late and the meeting will start without her.
After her plane landed in Arbil, Iraq, it was noticed a turbine blade in the engine was cracked, delaying her departure by more than two hours while a back-up military aircraft was brought in, McCormack said.
Iran says it is only seeking to develop its own nuclear energy sector for peaceful means. The West suspects it may want to build a nuclear bomb. — Reuters