EU agrees to implement UN sanctions against Iran

Source: CCTV.com | 02-13-2007 08:54

EU foreign ministers have moved ahead with plans to implement UN sanctions against Iran. But the UN nuclear watchdog agency's chief says sanctions should only be one part of efforts to defuse the standoff.

The EU agreed on Monday to implement UN sanctions on Iran, while saying it is ready to hold fresh talks on defusing a standoff over what the US claims is a covert Iranian bid to make atomic bombs.

IAEA chief Mohamed El-Baradi said the sanctions sent a clear message that the international community is seriously concerned about Iran's nuclear program, but the door remains open to resolve any differences.

Mohamed El-Baradi, said, "I think even the Security Council made it clear in its resolution that if Iran were to comply with the demand of the Security Council, the sanctions will be suspended, and that's precisely why many people, including myself, are trying to see how we can draw back from relying only on sanctions and going into the direction of negotiations."

Asked about talk of a possible US military strike on Iran, Elbaradei said military action was not a solution.

Mohamed El-Baradi, said, "I think that will create the opposite reaction. All the Iranians will get together and make the development of a nuclear weapon program a national priority."

On Sunday, EU leaders met with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, the first such talks since last year.

Larijani said Iran was ready to restart negotiations with the international community, but stressed his country would not suspend its nuclear program as a precondition.

Editor:Du Xiaodan