French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said yesterday that Iran will face UN sanctions for its refusal to suspend its nuclear program.

"The question is about the scope of sanctions but there will besanctions," Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio.

"Are we in a hurry? Yes," he said. "Are we ready to go as far as sanctions? Yes."

The five veto-holding members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, Britain, Russia, China and France --plus Germany, held a meeting at the French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, trying to reach an agreement on the sanctions against Iran for its refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear work.

The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in late July, urging Tehran to suspend by Aug. 31 all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, or face possible sanctions.

But the Iranian government reiterated that the country would press ahead with its nuclear program despite the UN warning.

Iran has repeatedly said that its nuclear energy agenda is limited to generating electricity.