EU issues deadline warning to Iran

With a deadline fast approaching, European Union foreign ministers today reiterated calls for Iran to meet its previous commitment to suspend uranium enrichment and allow spot checks of its nuclear programme.

The 15 ministers were debriefed on the diplomatic mission taken by British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer and French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin to Tehran last week.

While there, the three secured a commitment from Iranian officials to meet the demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency. However Iran set no date for the steps.

Also attending the Brussels meeting was IAEA chief Mohamed El Baradei.

Iran faces an October 31 deadline, set by the IAEA, to prove it does not have a nuclear weapons programme as the United States alleges.

Otherwise, the IAEA will likely turn to the UN Security Council, which could impose sanctions.

Iran has said it will sign an additional protocol to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty allowing inspectors to enter any site.

“The ball is now in El Baradei’s court to see how Iran will sign up to the commitments,” said one EU diplomat.

The EU has warned Iran that it risks losing improved trade ties with its biggest market unless it co-operates on nuclear inspections.