UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council met Monday on how to implement sanctions it adopted against Iran, hours after the Islamic Republic announced it would freeze nuclear talks for two months.

In a formal meeting, the 15-member council received a report on the implementation of all penalties approved against Iran and of a panel of experts to ensure states apply the punitive measures.

"When fully established, the panel will be our eyes and ears in the field," said US Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, expressing hope the panel would be operational by the "end of this summer."

"The effectiveness of the Iran sanctions regime is primarily the responsibility of each and every UN member state."

The Security Council slapped a fourth set of sanctions against Iran earlier this month for refusing to halt its uranium enrichment work, the most sensitive part of Tehran`s controversial atomic drive.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Monday he would postpone nuclear talks as a "penalty" to world powers as a result of the latest UN sanctions.

"We are postponing the talks because of the bad behavior and the adoption of the new resolution in the (UN) Security Council. This is a penalty, so that they (the world powers) are disciplined to learn the way of talking to other nations," Ahmadinejad said.

The hardline leader said Iran wanted more countries to be involved in talks over its nuclear program, and added that world powers must clarify the status of Israel`s alleged nuclear arsenal.

Western powers and Israel fear Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons under cover of a program Tehran insists is peaceful and for civilian energy purposes.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told reporters that he discussed the Iran nuclear issue with European leaders during the G20 summit in Toronto at the weekend, "encouraging them to continue these negotiations."

"I will continue to urge the leaders of the world, the concerned parties to continue their negotiations for an eventual resolution of this issue," he added.

BDST 0854 HRS, June 29, 2010

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