An upcoming meeting by five world powers on trying to curb Iran's nuclear programme has been cancelled on China's request, senior officials from three of the countries involved said Monday. One of the officials said China cited scheduling problems in asking for the cancellation, and the five now plan to talk by conference call.
The official said China seemed to have genuine problems in attending the meeting in Brussels or outside the Copenhagen climate summit and did not appear to be seeking to delay it. Still, the development was a setback in efforts to present a unified front on Iran in the face of continued Iranian defiance on its nuclear programme.