By Daisy Ayliffe - 15th February 2006
Iran must suspend all nuclear activity or face further UN action, the EU has warned.
The EU presidency and European commission told MEPs that Tehran to halt all nuclear research.
“If things continue to deteriorate further, we will need to consider options for further action through UN security council,” EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini warned.
The Italian commissioner attacked Iran’s failure to respond to Brussels’ “persistent efforts for dialogue.”
“That is why as result of an IAEA meeting in Vienna on February 4, Iran’s nuclear dossier has now been reported to UN security council.”
But Tehran responded angrily to news that it had been reported to New York and warned that it had been pushed too far.
"We consider referring Iran to the security council or submitting a report…is an end to diplomacy which will be a bad thing for European countries and the IAEA," Iranian security chief Ali Larijani declared.
Tehran later confirmed it had commenced small scale uranium enrichment at its Natanz facility.
But while Iran's defiance has exasperated European officials, the EU is keen to demonstrate that it has not yet turned its back on Tehran.
“The door still remains open for a negotiated settlement provided Iran takes the necessary steps,” Frattini stressed.
Brussels accepts Iran has right to enrich uranium under the NPT but says Tehran stands accused of failing to provide objective guarantees.
“Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful means is not being called question,”
Hans Winkler Austrian foreign minister added on behalf of the EU presidency.
“But Iran has not done enough to create adequate confidence. Quite the contrary.”
Winkler urged Tehran to consider the Moscow proposal that would allow for Iranian enrichment to be carried out on Russian territory.
The IAEA is set to meet again in early March to reconsider the Iran dossier.
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