Straw urges Iran not to renege on nuclear talks

Reuters: The government called on Iran’s new government on Monday not to resume nuclear activities that western powers fear could be a front for making atomic weapons. “We are working on the basis that any incoming government in Iran will honour the commitments made by the outgoing government,” Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters after talks with his Indian counterpart. Reuters

LONDON – The government called on Iran’s new government on Monday not to resume nuclear activities that western powers fear could be a front for making atomic weapons.

“We are working on the basis that any incoming government in Iran will honour the commitments made by the outgoing government,” Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters after talks with his Indian counterpart.

“We look to the Iranian government under its new president-elect to honour those commitments,” he said.

The landslide victory of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Friday’s presidential election run-off has triggered Western concern that Tehran may toughen policy on its nuclear programme.

The EU’s “big three” — Britain, France and Germany — have offered Iran economic and political incentives if it ends its uranium enrichment programme, and are working on new proposals to put forward in late July or early August.

“We are preparing detailed proposals,” Straw said.

Iran says it wants nuclear technology to generate electricity, not make bombs. It has agreed to freeze some nuclear work until the end of July.