Discussions over tougher measures to make Iran comply with UN demands have reached an end in London. The UK foreign office said the meeting of diplomats from the five permenant UN security council members had been "productive". The UK, US, Russia, China and France had met with Germany after Iran had exceeded the 60 day deadline to stop enriching Uranium. Last week the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confimred Iran was expanding, rather than decreasing, its nuclear programme.
Iran denies it is secretly trying to build nuclear arms, maintaing its programme is for developing peaceful energy resources instead. On Sunday the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Iran would not go back on its programme, amongst criticism over a metaphor Ahmadinejad used to descirbe the programme. Critics have suggested by comparing Iran's nuclear programme as a "train on a way way track with no room for stopping" implies the programme is out of control. On Monday an Iranian spokesperson called the talks in London "illegal and illogical... an incontradiction with Iranian nations's dignity".
The talks considered new tougher measures of dealing with Iran, including potential travel bans on Iranian officials associated wth the nuclear programme. It was hoped the talks would be interpreted as a sign the US in particular was willing to negociate. There has been speculation the talks were intended to gauge whether China and Russia could be persuaded to maintain pressure on Iran. Talks are set to continue later in the week.