|
The European Union (EU) set in Brussels on Monday "full suspension of fuel cycle activities" as the pre-condition for resuming nuclear talks with Iran.
The EU foreign ministers, who gathered in Brussels for a two-day meeting, made the decision after the discussed the Iran nuke issue.
On Sunday, Iranian chief nuclear negotiation Ali Larijani sent a letter to Britain, Germany and France, seeking a revival of the talks.
The talks broke down in August when Iran resumed uranium ore conversion, part of an enrichment program the West suspects could be aimed at making nuclear weapons.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told a press conference that the EU was studying the letter, and the meeting authorized Britain, France, German and EU foreign policy Javier Solana to resolve the issue in the name of the EU.
In a conclusion document issued by the meeting, the ministers urged Iran to stop uranium conversion activities in Esfahan.
"The (EU) Council urges Iran to implement all measures requested by the IAEA Board of Governors in its Resolution on Sept.24, including reinstating a full suspension of all fuel cycle activities, thus allowing negotiations with the European side to resume before the IAEA Board meets again in November," said the document.
The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA) is to hold a meeting on Nov. 24, the Iran nuclear issue is among the top agenda.
The EU ministers also condemned "in the strongest terms" the comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last month to let Israel be "wiped off the map."
"These comments cause concern about Iran's role in the region and its future intention," said the conclusion document.
The Sept. 24 IAEA resolution noted that Iran's nuclear behavior did not comply with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, but it did not make it clear to report the case to the UN Security Council.
However, this constitutes a basis for the EU to demand the IAEA report the Iran case to the UN Security Council, which has a final say whether impose global sanctions against Iran or not.
(Xinhua News Agency November 8, 2005)
|
