Changing its tune somewhat for constant calls for talks with Iran over that country’s burgeoning nuclear program – which the United States and Israel believe is really a disguised plan to build an atomic bomb – the European Union said it will now support new sanctions after Tehran thumbed its nose at requests for more negotiations.  Echoing the EU’s stance at a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board, US envoy Glyn Davies called on Tehran to change its course and start negotiating with world powers. “Not doing so leaves the international community no choice but to pursue further, deeper sanctions to hold Iran accountable,” Davies said. Western powers are currently trying to pass a fourth round of sanctions targeting Iran at the UN Security Council, after the country boosted its uranium enrichment program. Now the EU said it shares the IAEA’s concern about possible ongoing work related to nuclear weapons in Iran and criticized the country’s plans to build 10 additional uranium enrichment plants, a project the group called a “further provocation.” The EU and US envoys said Iran had breached Security Council demands to halt such activities, which many countries fear are geared not towards making nuclear weapons rather than for civilian uses. By starting to enrich uranium to 20%, Iran had taken “an escalatory move in blatant and direct violation of the UN Security Council and (IAEA) Board requirements,” Davies said. The US and EU said that Iran had broken its legally binding inspection agreement with the IAEA by not giving the agency the necessary advance notice before boosting enrichment.
Although Iranian leaders say they took this step to make fuel for a medical-use reactor, the EU pointed out that the Islamic country does not have the technology to manufacture actual fuel elements. “The reasons given for these enrichment activities are questionable,” Spanish Ambassador Jose Luis Rosello said, speaking on behalf of his country’s current EU presidency. The EU stressed its general readiness to solve the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program through talks, all of which have failed even as Iran continues to defy a 2006 deadline to stop enriching uranium. “Iran’s persistent failure to meet its international obligations and Iran’s apparent lack of interest in pursuing negotiations require a clear response, including appropriate measures,” the EU’s statement said. EU foreign ministers said last month that sanctions would only work if other major world powers, such as China, joined them under UN auspices. In its statement to the IAEA board, the Chinese delegate said that there was still room for diplomacy with Iran, according to a participant at the meeting.
Germany also joined the IAEA in voicing concern that Iran might be working on a nuclear weapon. Iran’s activities raised serious questions, government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm said. He said the Iranian government had refused to follow binding resolutions of the UN Security Council. Wilhelm said Germany would support sanctions, but was against a military strike against Iranian nuclear facilities. A diplomatic solution was the best way to resolve the impasse, Wilhelm said, adding: “We continue to reach out our hand out to Iran.” Iran has repeatedly denied it is working on atomic weapons and insists its uranium enrichment plants and other facilities are purely geared towards nuclear energy, but the country’s officials have not been cooperating with the IAEA on clearing allegations about military nuclear development, officials at the nuclear watchdog said.
The IAEA also criticized the country’s plans to build 10 additional uranium enrichment plants: “This constitutes a further provocation and defiance to the international community in clear violation of UN Security Council resolutions and safeguards obligations,” the group said.