End nuclear threat and reap US reward, Solana tells Iran

By Andrew Beatty

Date: 17/02/05

The EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has urged Iran to open the way for greater US engagement by allaying fears about its nuclear intentions.

Ahead of George W. Bush's visit to Brussels next week, Solana told European Voice that if objective guarantees about Iran's nuclear programme were made in current talks, then the US might come on board. The European Union regards US support as essential to the success of the deal being hammered out between the EU and Iran.

Solana said that a 'grand bargain' with Iran, covering contentious issues such as the country's support for terrorism, refusal to recognise Israel, security guarantees and membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO) could not be ruled out.

"We may at the end have a comprehensive relationship with Iran and if that is the case then I am sure that the US will have something to say," he said.

"Iran is a complicated country that has not only problems with nuclear [issues] but also human rights and co-operation with Hezbollah and things of that nature."

But EU diplomats believe that any 'grand bargain' depends on the nature of an EU-Iran deal currently under discussion and how it is seen in Washington.

The EU hopes, by next month, to get agreement to a permanent end to Iran's uranium enrichment programme, in return for a wide-ranging trade deal covering technology, research, investment and energy co-operation.

The Bush administration has so far stayed out of direct talks, but is keen to influence the EU's behaviour, playing a role described by one US official as "more than consultation".

But if Washington gets sufficient assurances that Iran has ceased enrichment activities, which it says provide cover for a nuclear weapons programme, Solana said that he was confident the US would make concrete steps to engage, such as supporting Iran's application for WTO membership.

He said: "If things move in such a manner that it goes into the need for that [concrete measures], I am sure that there will be a positive reaction.

"It has to be the behaviour of Iran in our negotiations which deserves such a prize.

"Let's see how things evolve, let's see everybody's role if things develop in the right direction."

Solana said he hoped that Iranian security concerns, exacerbated by the US's repeated refusal to rule out military action against the Islamic republic, could be soothed with EU and US support.

"Security guarantees are probably more in the scheme when Iraq is really stabilised, the protagonists will be the countries of the region, the others can help, we are willing to help."

That would require the EU and US to engage countries such as Israel to take part in talks, he said. "If it goes that far that would be a fantastic dream if we can obtain that," he said.

Solana was also optimistic that EU-US divisions on Iran would not cloud the recent apparent transatlantic rapprochement.

"It is important that we have started a diplomatic approach to try and solve the common objective which is to prevent more nuclear weapons in a complicated region," he said.

Condoleezza Rice's recent visit to Brussels and Bush's decision to travel to Brussels on his first foreign visit heralded a new phase in transatlantic relations, said Solana.

"This is recognition of a new reality. No doubt a page has been turned," he added.

Days before a visit of US President, George W. Bush to Europe, the EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged Iran to open the way for greater US engagement by allaying fears about its nuclear intentions.