Big powers to meet on Iran on Friday

Six world powers will meet in Brussels to discuss what measures could be applied against Tehran for its refusal to halt its nuclear program, a European Union official said Thursday.

Friday's meeting will include the UN Security Council's permanent members – Britain, China, France, Russia and the US – plus Germany, the official said on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to disclose details of the gathering.

Iran announced Wednesday it would not export its enriched uranium for further processing, effectively rejecting the latest plan brokered by the International Atomic Energy Agency and aimed at delaying Tehran's ability to build a nuclear weapon.

Following that announcement, President Barack Obama said Washington has started talking with allies about new punishment against Iran.

Speaking during a visit to South Korea, Obama said a new package of punitive steps will likely be developed "over the next several weeks."

He did not give details of any possible punitive measures under consideration.

Russia, however,  said on Thursday Iran had still not given its final response to the proposed fuel deal.

"As far as we know, there has so far been no final official answer from Tehran," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Nesterenko said in a statement. "There is currently no discussion on working out additional sanctions against Iran."

Reuters contributed to this report