BRUSSELS. Aug 5 (Interfax) - Brussels is expecting a response from the Iranian administration following yesterday's telephone conversation between EU Supreme Commissioner on Foreign Policy and Security Xavier Solana and Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili.

WASHINGTON _ The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany agreed Monday to seek a fourth round of sanctions against Iran after the Islamic Republic failed to accept an offer to resolve the crisis over its nuclear program, the State Department said.

Western negotiators have given Iran more time to respond to pleas that it suspend its nuclear enrichment program or face new sanctions, sources said Sunday. The deadline for Iran's compliance was Saturday, but Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ignored the timetable.

Iran's response to an international package of incentives to suspend its nuclear enrichment program was its own proposal involving more talks, officials said.

By ANNE PENKETH WORLD FOCUS Iran has handed ammunition to American and Israeli hawks by delaying its response to a Western offer of technological and political incentives intended to curb Iranian nuclear ambitions.