Xinhua: Germany supports a French initiative to consider tougher EU sanctions on Iran should Iran refuse to cooperate over its controversial nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said here Friday. BERLlN, Oct. 5 (Xinhua) — Germany supports a French initiative to consider tougher EU sanctions on Iran should Iran refuse to cooperate over its controversial nuclear program, a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said here Friday.
The European Union had to be prepared if Iran refused to cooperate over its disputed nuclear program, the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman made the remarks in response to a letter sent by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner to all EU nations this week.
In his letter, Kouchner called for increased pressure on Tehran, a move expected to fiercely debated in the upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers on Oct. 15 in Luxembourg.
The German spokeswoman said Germany would continue to follow a concerted international approach to the Iranian nuclear program.
Germany has repeatedly said it prefers diplomatic means to solve Iran’s nuclear crisis despite the recent harder lines taken by France.
Europe’s major countries, including Britain, France and Germany, have urged Iran to stop its uranium enrichment immediately despite a deal reached in August between International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran.
In the deal, Iran pledged to answer outstanding questions about its controversial nuclear program, a move considered by some western countries as one of Iran’s fresh tricks to delay UN sanctions.
Iranian leaders have repeatedly said Tehran would not bow to western pressure to suspend its uranium enrichment, which Iran said will only be used for peaceful means such as generating power.
