Powers skeptical on Iran sanctions

World powers said they would have to overcome key differences yesterday to agree on a new sanctions resolution against Iran that aims to ratchet up pressure on Teheran to curb sensitive nuclear work.

Ahead of a meeting in Berlin of foreign ministers from the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said powers still had "some way to go" in agreeing a third UN sanctions resolution.

The West has been engaged in a diplomatic showdown with Iran over its nuclear program since 2002 and the Security Council has already imposed two sets of mild sanctions - the first in December 2006 and second in March 2007.