BRUSSELS, 8 November 2005 — The European Union refused to rule out yesterday imposing sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, but said it was studying a new offer from Tehran to resume talks to end the standoff.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, one of three EU ministers who have led efforts to engage Iran by offering benefits in return for pledges on its nuclear plans, said that trade and diplomatic sanctions were not yet an issue. “That has not been discussed so far, I’m not going to speculate on the future,” he told reporters in Brussels where he was hosting a one-day meeting of EU foreign ministers.
“We have looked at the letter very carefully. The Iranians are under an obligation to respond positively to the resolution of the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency ... and we look to them to do that,” Straw told reporters.
Separately, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana added of the letter from Tehran received by EU officials on Sunday: “We will respond ... We don’t want to go any further at this point.” The Sept. 24 IAEA resolution required that Iran be reported to the UN Security Council for non-compliance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and urged it to re-establish “full and sustained suspension” of all activities linked to enrichment.
UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed El-Baradei yesterday called on Iran to be more transparent about its atomic energy program to ease international fears that it is aiming to obtain a nuclear weapon.
At an international nongovernmental conference in Washington marking the 60th anniversary of the first official nonproliferation proposal, El-Baradei said Tehran must come clean on its nuclear intentions.
“Over the past two and half years, we have compiled a detailed picture of most aspects of Iran’s past and current nuclear program,” El-Baradei said, according to an advance transcript of his remarks.
“But given that the program was concealed for nearly 20 years, and that a number of open questions remain, the responsibility rests with Iran to provide, if needed, additional transparency measures,” El-Baradei said.
Nevertheless, he said he was heartened by some recent moves toward greater openness by Tehran. “We are making progress,” El-Baradei said. “We are getting access.” But he added: “The ball is in their court”
