Solana set for "vigorous diplomacy" on Iranian nukes

Mar 26, 2007, 12:15 GMT

Brussels - Chief European Union diplomat Javier Solana is set for weeks of intense diplomacy aimed at persuading a defiant Iran to end its uranium enrichment programme, senior US and EU officials said Monday.

'We have asked Solana to undertake vigorous diplomacy,' on Iran, US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns told reporters in Brussels.

While a resolution adopted Saturday by the United Nations Security Council tightened sanctions against Iran, there was also unity for using 'diplomatic and peaceful' means to end the current nuclear stalemate with Tehran, said Burns.

'We have a lot of trust in Solana,' said Burns, adding that he hoped the Iranians would understand that the EU chief diplomat was speaking on behalf of the international community.

Solana's task would be to reach out to chief Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani but also hardliners in Iran, said Burns.

The EU chief diplomat is expected to make telephone contact with Larijani in the coming days, following up a face-to-face meeting with the Iranian official in Munich in February.

EU diplomats said Solana's message would be simple: 'There is a clear continued wish to get back to the negotiating table.'

While it was not clear if Iranian officials would take up the offer, 'we do not despair at all of restarting negotiations,' said a senior EU diplomat.

Burns insisted that the new UN resolution - unanimously backed by all 15 members of the Security Council - showed that Iran was isolated on the nuclear issue.

He said his advice to Iranian officials was: 'When you're in a hole, stop digging.' The US official insisted that the US was not seeking confrontation with Iran but wanted a 'diplomatic outcome.'

However, this required that 'Iran stop griping and start cooperating,' he said.

The US and the EU insist that Iran must temporarily suspend uranium enrichment activities in order to open negotiations. Once the talks start, UN sanctions against Tehran will also be put on ice.

Washington and Brussels have offered Iran an array of technology, trade and aid incentives aimed at helping the country's civilian nuclear programme.

But they insist that Tehran must stop uranium enrichment, fearing that this will lead to the development of nuclear weapons. Iran rejects the charge, saying its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

The new UN resolution, building on targeted sanctions against Iran's nuclear technology in the first binding sanctions adopted last December, extends the embargo to include all Iranian arms sales.

Burns said this would curtail Iranian arms deliveries to the Lebanon's Hezbollah militia and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

The UN Security Council's five veto-wielding permanent members have warned of additional measures if Iran fails within 60 days to suspend uranium enrichment activities and return to negotiations.

Last year's sanctions include a travel ban and freeze of assets of Iranian officials involved in ballistic missiles and nuclear programme.

The Security Council also ordered a ban on the supply, sale and transfer of materials needed by Iran to continue its nuclear activities.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has denounced the UN resolution as 'an unlawful, unnecessary and unjustifiable action' against his country's nuclear programme.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday dismissed the UN sanctions as 'nothing new' and said that even one hundred more 'pieces of paper' would not stop Iran's nuclear programmes.

Tehran has also said it will limit cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Solana said that in his discussions with Iranian officials he would also call for the immediate release of British sailors seized Iranian authorities while in Iraqi waters.

But EU diplomats said the detention of the sailors would not affect Solana's nuclear diplomacy with Iran.