World powers discuss options should Iran miss nuclear deadline

World powers are discussing next steps toward Iran if it fails to meet a year-end deadline for addressing international concern over its nuclear program, the White House and State Department said Tuesday.

Top officials from the “P5 plus one” — permanent United Nations Security Council members Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany — held a conference call Tuesday to discuss possible sanctions against Iran, Assistant Secretary of State P.J. Crowley told reporters.

He said the group “united its resolve that Iran must either answer the questions that we have about its nuclear aspirations or face additional pressure” and that Washington would be “consulting broadly across the international community in the coming days and weeks” about its options.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters that time is running out for Iran to accept the deal.

CNN