To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Permanent Five Security Council members and Germany to agree a new Security Council Resolution on Iran is expected to take place; and if he will make a statement. (166128)

E3+3 Political Directors and Foreign Ministers are in regular touch. I agreed with my E3+3 colleagues in New York on 28 September that we would seek a vote on a new UN Security Council sanctions resolution against Iran unless both Mohammed El Baradei and Javier Solana reported a positive outcome from their dealings with the Iranians. Dr. El Baradei reported on 15 November. His report was mixed, but made clear that the International Atomic Energy Agency's visibility of Iran's nuclear programme was “diminishing”. Dr. Solana's staff reported to Political Directors on 1 December and said that Solana had found his 30 November meeting with Saeed Jalili “disappointing”. Accordingly, Political Directors met in Paris on 1 December and agreed to prepare a new sanctions resolution. I will continue to stay in touch with my E3+3 colleagues on the subject.