There is much talk of a new Cold War between Russia and America. Nowhere was that more apparent than at a dinner on Monday night in New York.  Condoleezza was hosting the foreign ministers of Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia to discuss a possible UN resolution on Iran obliging them to cease uranium enrichment.  It was Margaret Beckett’s introduction to global diplomacy. The setting was suitably grand – New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. But my sources tell me there was nothing diplomatic about the language.  American officials are still bridling at the hardball tactics of Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister.  “The language was pretty extreme,” says my source who is privy to what was said. “There were serious clashes and heated exchanges.”  Apparently Nicholas Burns, Ms Rice’s trouble-shooter and number three at the State Department, was the principal target of Lavrov’s attacks.  The Russians insist that their behaviour is principled, that they fear a new UN resolution will pave the way for action, as with Iraq.  The European diplomats who drew up the text of the draft resolution are adamant that this is all about Russian politics.  For the moment Condi is playing along. Today she backed the idea of presenting to Iran an outline of possible benefits and sanctions if they start to co operate with the UN.  Diplomats insist these are not “carrots and sticks” - presumably because that would suggest there is a reward for bad behaviour.  But that is what they are and once the news starts percolating through Washington there will be murmurs of disquiet about the idea of accommodating the old enemy.  As for Russia, Lavrov’s behaviour will not be forgotten.  Prepare for a stormy G8 Summit in July, when my advice to Mrs Beckett would be to speak her mind a bit more at post-dinner briefings if she wants to get on air.
Condoleezza Rice hosted a private dinner for the world's leading foreign ministers to discuss the Iran crisis - but the language round the table was far from diplomatic.