WASHINGTON, May 31: The US has come up with a new proposal to force Iran to abandon its nuclear programme, cutting its access to international capital.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will discuss the plan with top diplomats from Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany in Vienna on Thursday.

The US wants the group to agree to cut off Iran’s access to international capital if it does not stop enriching uranium, State Department spokesman Scott McCormack told a briefing in Washington.

“Under the concept that is now being discussed by the P-5+1, you would have that regime potentially facing a variety of different actions under the rubric of a Security Council action,” he said.

The US will target “like-minded states getting together to work on various financial measures that might be taken so that the Iranian regime can’t exploit the international financial system,” he added.