French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy on Wednesday pushed ahead with his plan for a compromise deal with Iran on its nuclear program, suggesting that the West cease threats of sanction if Tehran agrees to simultaneously suspend enrichment of uranium.

Douste-Blazy suggested that the United States supported the suggestion, and said that the powers were currently discussing the possibility of setting a new deadline for Iran to suspend its nuclear program.

"Everything turns on this double suspension," he said.

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The nations seeking to halt Iran's nuclear activities continue to have differences over possible sanctions, the French foreign minister said Wednesday, but are working toward a solution.

With world leaders gathered at the United Nations, the United States had hoped to drive decisively this week toward political and economic sanctions on Iran, now that it has missed a UN deadline to halt disputed uranium enrichment that many believe is aimed at making a bomb.

Douste-Blazy gave no specific date for the new deal, but a senior French diplomat said the six nations are mulling an early October deadline for Iran to agree to a simultaneous suspension of uranium enrichment and talk of sanctions.

A U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity confirmed that the group discussed a new timeline - but said sanctions are still on the table for now.

At a dinner meeting Tuesday with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Douste-Blazy and the foreign ministers of Russia, China, Britain, Germany and Italy produced little consensus about the next step, Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said. He said the diplomatic effort to counter Iran was in "extra innings."

The Americans have little choice but to give the Europeans a little more time, since Washington needs Europe on board for sanctions to be effective.

Douste-Blazy admitted that France had no promises from the Iranians that they would accept - or even consider - the simultaneous suspension proposal.

Still, France appeared determined to resist sanctions, despite mixed messages this week.

President Jacques Chirac shook up diplomatic circles with a proposal to drop talk of sanctions on Monday, then appeared to soften the stance after talks Tuesday with U.S. President George W. Bush. Chirac also said Tuesday he was not interested in new deadlines for Iran.