Solana: EU should consider Iran sanctions

AP: A top European Union official said Monday that the 25-nation bloc should consider sanctions against Iran, including a visa ban on nuclear officials, because Tehran refuses to cooperate with the United Nations on its nuclear program. Associated Press

LUXEMBOURG (AP) – A top European Union official said Monday that the 25-nation bloc should consider sanctions against Iran, including a visa ban on nuclear officials, because Tehran refuses to cooperate with the United Nations on its nuclear program.

“We have to begin thinking about that possibility,” EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana told reporters outside an EU foreign ministers meeting.

The ministers debated if the EU should get tougher with Iran over its nuclear plan, which the West fears is geared toward building nuclear weapons.

Solana ruled out, however, that EU would back any military action.

“Any military action is definitely out of the question for us,” he said.

Solana said that the EU would await Iran’s response to a U.N. Security Council call for a halt to uranium enrichment before considering any actions. Iran has so far rejected international demands for clarity over its nuclear intentions.

“Iran has to respond to the Security Council. We have to be prepared in case they fail,” Solana said.