NEW YORK (AFP)--Ministers from the six nations involved in talks over Iran's nuclear program will meet Tuesday at the United Nations with representatives of several Arab countries, diplomatic sources said Monday.
The six nations - the five permanent Security Council members along with Germany - will meet with Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and members of the Gulf Cooperation Council, the source said on condition of anonymity.
Not all of the countries will be represented at the ministerial level for the ad-hoc meeting, which will follow a meeting of Western and Arab diplomatic chiefs.
Representatives from the so-called Quartet -- the United States, European Union, Russia, United Nations -- are set to meet over dinner later Monday with several Arab ministers.
The pro-Western Gulf Cooperation Council states -- Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman -- have decided to develop a joint nuclear technology program for peaceful purposes, amid concerns over Iran's nuclear ambitions and growing regional influence.
German magazine Der Spiegel reported over the weekend that Germany is seeking further sanctions against Iran, aimed at the banking and transportation sectors. Iran insists its nuclear program is only for civil energy uses.
This month, the head of the U.N.'s International Atomic Energy Agency said that international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear activity have been a failure.
-Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500
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Publié le 15 Décembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones