VIENNA (Agencies) -- Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, talking about his country's role, as rotating president of the European Union, in Iran's nuclear program conflict, said, "We are trying to find a diplomatic solution for the problem, " IRNA reported.

Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik, whose country took over the helm of the European Union presidency on January 1, said Vienna is trying to find a diplomatic solution for Iran’s nuclear standoff, stating, "We are trying to find a diplomatic solution for the problem."

Speaking to an Austrian newspaper, Plassnik added, "We have expressed our deep concern about recent developments in Iran's nuclear dossier."

He went on to say Iran should make it clear that its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes because it has recently created disappointment instead of confidence building. According to IRNA, the Austrian foreign minister described Russian proposal on Iran's nuclear program "interesting and remarkable."

Chirac, emir of Qatar discuss Iran

Iran was top of the agenda for the talks between Jacques Chirac and emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani on Friday, the Kuwait New Agency (KUNA) reported, quoting French president’s press office.

"The President of the Republic recalled that Iran must come into line with its obligations," a statement from Chirac’s office said.

"He stressed that the Europeans have always favored the path of cooperation and dialogue and that they are concerned by the recent decisions of Iran."

The French leader added that the meeting of the IAEA Governors on February 2-3 "will be an opportunity to remind Iran of its obligations and create the conditions for Iran to resume negotiations."

Iran called off talks with three European countries (France, Germany, Britain), known as the EU3, because it said what was being offered in exchange for halting uranium conversion and eventual enrichment was insulting.

German FM meeting with ElBaradei on Iran

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was to hold a meeting with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Mohamed ElBaradei in Vienna on Saturday, AFP quoted his ministry as saying.

The meeting takes place two days ahead of a gathering in London on Monday of the foreign ministers of the five permanent UN Security Council member nations plus Germany, which is aimed at settling on a policy on Iran's nuclear program.

Diplomats said on Friday that Iran had promised to allow UN nuclear inspectors to visit the former Lavizan military site in Tehran in what would be a key concession in the UN investigation of its nuclear program.

U.S. says no contacts with Iran at London conference

The United States insisted Friday there would be no contact between its delegation and Iranian officials at an international conference on Afghanistan next week, AFP reported.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will lead the U.S. delegation at the London conference on January 31-February 1.

"I believe, as Iran is a neighbor, it's going to send a representative. I'm not quite sure at what level that person will be," said Nicholas Burns, assistant secretary of state for political affairs.

"I do not anticipate, and I'm 100 percent sure about this, any contact between whichever official is sent by the Iranian government and our delegation, including Secretary Rice," Burns told a press conference.

Before the conference starts, Rice will dine with her Chinese, Russian, and European counterparts to discuss moves to refer Iran's nuclear program to the UN Security Council.

U.S. Senate passes resolution on Iran

The U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution condemning Iran for its nuclear program and backing efforts to report it to the Security Council, Reuters reported. The resolution, approved by a voice vote, cites Iran's "many failures ... to comply faithfully with its nuclear obligations."

The resolution also calls on all Security Council members, particularly Russia and China, to "act expeditiously" to deal with Iran.

U.S. President George W. Bush said on Friday in an interview with CBS television that sanctions against Iran were "certainly a real possibility" if Tehran does not do enough to ease fears over its nuclear program, AFP reported. Asked whether sanctions would work against Iran, Bush replied: "I have said that is certainly a real possibility."

Asked whether he had reviewed plans for possible military action, Bush said: "I think it's best I just leave it that all options should be on the table, and the last option is the military option.

The United States should keep the threat of using force against Iran as a last resort if it wanted leverage in the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program, U.S. Senator John McCain said on Friday, Reuters reported.

McCain, a prominent member of U.S. President George W. Bush's Republican Party, told a panel at the World Economic Forum that Iran needed to be referred to the UN, even if no one knew whether sanctions would be imposed.

Iran is NPT compliant, urges Iran-U.S. diplomatic ties: ex-Australian FM

Former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, sitting in the audience, asked McCain if "you are going to make the same mistake twice", referring to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

"You have a whole bunch of carrots in your pocket which could be employed", such as easing U.S. sanctions against Iran or resuming diplomatic ties, said Evans, now the president of the International Crisis Group think-tank.

Evans said many people around the world believed Iran was still in compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which allows the pursuit of peaceful atomic energy.

In response, McCain said Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad was "not interested in any carrots that I know".