The United States held talks with disarmament officials from major countries Friday as it steps up pressure on Iran to renounce any move toward acquiring nuclear weapons, officials said. Washington wants the backing of the Group of Eight nations for its attempts to have the International Atomic Energy Agency declare Iran in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Such a vote by the IAEA board at its three-day meeting in Vienna, Austria, starting Monday, could lead to U.N. Security Council sanctions. The United States demands that Iran renounce uranium enrichment, which could be used to develop nuclear weapons. Iran insists it only is interested in nuclear power, which can be created with lower levels of enrichment than the levels necessary for nuclear weapons. Britain, France and Germany have signaled they don't want the IAEA to vote on the U.S. proposal before November to give diplomatic efforts more chance to work. Russia has said it will continue to work with Iran on building its nuclear power program, but says it will ensure that its cooperation cannot contribute to a nuclear weapons program. Russia's position has been criticized by the United States. Also attending the Geneva meeting are officials from the other G-8 countries: Italy, Japan and Canada.
