Members of the U.N. Security Council say a vote on a new resolution imposing a third round of sanctions against Iran for its controversial nuclear program will probably not happen before Saturday. Western diplomats had hoped to pass the resolution before the end of February. From United Nations headquarters in New York, VOA's Margaret Besheer has more.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday there is a very strong case for new U.N. sanctions against Iran after a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency faulted Iranian cooperation with the IAEA. Senior diplomats from major world powers meet in Washington next Monday to discuss a sanctions move in the Security Council. VOA's David Gollust reports from the State Department.

A senior U.S. official says a new U.N. sanctions resolution aimed at pressuring Iran to curb its sensitive nuclear activities will be "punitive," despite Russian remarks to the contrary.

Russia's foreign minister says a new draft U.N. resolution on Iran over its disputed nuclear activities does not call for any tough sanctions.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her counterparts from five other leading powers Tuesday agreed in Berlin on a U.N. resolution against Iran over its nuclear program. Details of the resolution have yet to be released, but diplomats say it will strengthen and expand existing sanctions. VOA's Josh Ward reports from Berlin.

China has hinted it would not support a new round of sanctions against Iran despite Tehran's continued defiance of United Nations resolutions on its nuclear program. The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany are meeting in Berlin to discuss further sanctions against Tehran. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing.

Talks on sanctions over Iran's nuclear program that were planned for next week have been postponed, officials were trying to set a new date, Britain's Foreign Office said Friday.

France said on Thursday that the European companies should reduce their investments in Iran and not seek new markets there. President Nicolas Sarkozy's spokesman said such measures were being considered because it could take time for the U.N. Security Council to agree on tougher sanctions against Tehran.

In another step aimed at increasing the economic cost to Iran of its controversial nuclear enrichment program, a key congressional panel has approved legislation to impose sanctions on Iran's energy sector.

Tehran has condemned a recent warning by the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized economies that Iran could face more sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.

A former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations says only regime change will cause Iran to halt its nuclear program. VOA's Michael Bowman reports from Washington, Ambassador John Bolton spoke one day after the U.N. Security council voted to impose new sanctions on Tehran for refusing to stop enriching uranium.

Financial measures taken against Iran. On 23 December 2006 the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1737 (2006) concerning Iran.