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Europeans toughen tone with Iran, warning sanctions if Tehran resumes nuclear program
 France, Britain and Germany hardened their tone toward Iran, warning that Tehran risked triggering an international crisis and could face U.N. sanctions if it follows through with a threat to resume its nuclear program. The toughened stance on Tuesday came a day after Iran said it would resume nuclear processing at its plant in Isfahan, beginning Wednesday, and follows the election of a new ultraconservative government in Tehran. In a letter to Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Hasan Rowhani, the three nations' foreign ministers and the EU foreign policy chief warned that restarting work would "terminate our dialogue" and push the Europeans to seek a special session of the board of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The agency's board can report countries to the U.N. Security Council, which in turn can impose sanctions. The Tehran government rejected the European stance. "The way is not to issue threats. Iran will not give in to threats," Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said. Earlier on Tuesday, France and Germany urged Iran to wait for a proposal from European negotiators that is expected this week. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said the European Union was prepared to offer extensive economic incentives to Iran, which he hoped could succeed in "de-escalating this dangerous situation." France warned that Iran would have to face the U.N. Security Council if it reopens its Isfahan Nuclear Conversion Facility and resumes uranium processing. "This Iranian affair is very serious," said French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy. "It could be the beginning of a major international crisis." Posted by: Fred 2005-08-04 |
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