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Iran-UK: Britain's Straw warns Iran on nuclear compliance |
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Wednesday, 09 November 2005 |
 Reuters, November 9 - British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw on Wednesday
said referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council remained an option if
Tehran did not comply with international obligations on its nuclear
activities.
Speaking after talks with the Russian leadership on Tehran's nuclear
program, Straw told reporters: "I say this on behalf of the EU3
(Britain, France and Germany): We do not wish to see Iran referred to
the Security Council."
But he said a signatory member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty could be
reported to the Council if it was seen to be in breach of its
obligations. "I hope the Iranian government understands what is
expected of it," he said.
Straw, who met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the EU
would like to see Iran implement the terms of a September resolution by
the board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
that it freeze all sensitive nuclear activities.
Russia, which has built a nuclear reactor in southern Iran, defends
Tehran's right to pursue a peaceful nuclear program and says EU and US
suspicions that it is trying to develop a nuclear weapon are not proven.
But when asked about the differences between Moscow and Brussels over Iran, Lavrov sought to paper over the cracks.
"There is nothing to assess. There is no gap," between our positions, Lavrov told journalists.
Straw had to cut his visit to Moscow short after British Prime Minister
Tony Blair recalled top ministers to vote in parliament on
anti-terrorism measures.
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