[Al Arabiya Latest] The United States will push for new U.N. sanctions against Iran later this year if President Barack Obama's effort to improve relations fails to stop Tehran from pursuing its nuclear program, U.S. diplomats said late on Thursday.But plans for a fourth round of international sanctions will remain on hold at least until after Iran's presidential elections in June, diplomats added.
Earlier this week, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Western powers should not rush to impose new sanctions on Iran at a time when Tehran has a good chance to move to normal ties with Washington.
There are hopes in Washington and other Western capitals that a moderate will win the Iranian election and seize upon Obama's recent offer of new diplomatic engagement with the Islamic Republic.