Major powers warn Iran of possible new sanctions

By Sophie Walker

LONDON (Reuters) - World powers warned Iran on Wednesday a third round of U.N. sanctions loomed if it did not halt its uranium enrichment work, which the West suspects could be used to build nuclear weapons.

Earlier, Iran underlined its determination to press on with the work when Ali Akbar Velayati, international affairs adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Tehran was capable of mass producing machines used for enriching uranium.

"One day Iran had problems to produce one centrifuge but right now we have obtained the technology for mass production of centrifuges," Velayati told the Jomohouri Eslami newspaper.

It was believed to be the first time a senior aide of Khamenei, who has the final say on nuclear and other policies, has said it could make centrifuges on a large scale.

The sanctions warning followed a meeting in London of senior officials from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia -- plus Germany.

A Foreign Office statement said the political directors from the six major powers had concluded a negotiated solution was still preferable but that further action would taken if necessary to get Iran to comply.

"There was strong agreement on the way ahead, reflecting our shared concerns about Iran's non-compliance with (the U.N. nuclear watchdog) and Security Council requirements and our common interest in a negotiated solution," said the statement.

"All agreed that if Iran failed to meet international requirements the Security Council would need to take further action," it said.