EU to pursue more sanctions on Iran for nuclear enrichment

Bloomberg: European Union leaders plan to pursue a third round of sanctions against Iran for enriching uranium in violation of United Nations resolutions. By Marie-Louise Moller and James G. Neuger

Dec. 11 (Bloomberg) — European Union leaders plan to pursue a third round of sanctions against Iran for enriching uranium in violation of United Nations resolutions.

The EU pledge, in a draft statement released today in Brussels, backs President George W. Bush’s efforts to tighten Iran’s diplomatic isolation.

Expressing “deep concern with Iran’s nuclear program,” EU governments will offer “full support to the work in the UN Security Council to adopt further measures,” says the statement, to be made final at a Dec. 14 summit.

Bush is trying to rally international support for tougher measures against Iran in the face of a U.S. intelligence report last week that found that the Iranian government halted nuclear weapons research in 2003.

Iran has pressed ahead with uranium enrichment, bucking Security Council sanctions approved in December and strengthened in March.

“The acquisition by Iran of a nuclear military capability would be unacceptable,” the statement says. The 27-nation bloc said it would still offer Iran economic incentives and energy assistance if the government ends the enrichment activities.