Trio to push Iran back to nuke talks

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 08/12/05

France, Germany and the UK are poised to step up pressure on Iran to move back to the negotiating table and away from uranium enrichment.

A statement is expected in the coming days from the three. According to diplomats, the statement is expected to call on Iran not to prejudge talks which both sides have said they want to restart soon, but which have been put in jeopardy by Iran's refusal to negotiate on its right to enrich uranium.

So far Tehran has refused to consider a Russian proposal which would see uranium for Iran's nuclear cycle produced in Russia and which has received some backing from the international community.

Although details of the statement have not been made public the move is seen as an attempt to shift the onus onto Tehran.

The EU has warned that no progress towards talks could result in Iran being referred to the UN Security Council, where it may face sanctions. At a recent meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors the EU and US shied away from seeking referral, faced with opposition from Russia and other members. The board is not scheduled to meet again until 6 March 2006.

According to Tomas Valasek, director of the World Society Institute's Brussels office, the prospects for the talks are bleak.

"It is clear that Iran wants to complete the enrichment cycle," he said. "You have to wonder if the EU has been over-optimistic."

But, he said, "the Russian proposals offer a shadow of hope". He added that the EU needed to explore these proposals in order to get Russia to support taking Iran to the UN Security Council.

Article reports that France, Germany and the UK were planning to step up pressure on Iran to move back to the negotiating table and away from uranium enrichment.