Iran Six left with no choice but to impose sanctions - France

RIA Novosti, PUBLISHED June 03, 2010

By repeatedly rejecting the offers of cooperation, Iran has left international mediators no choice but to impose further sanctions, a spokesman for the French foreign ministry said on Tuesday.

"Taking into account Iran's refusal to start serious discussions with the 'Six' [the United States, Britain, Germany, China, Russia and France] despite numerous offers of talks and cooperation, the 'six' have no choice but to press for the soonest adoption of a resolution on sanctions," Bernard Valero said.

Extracts of a confidential International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, published in the press on Monday, reiterated concerns that Iran may be making moves to develop nuclear weapons.

Valero said the report "shows a lack of progress on various issues, central to the international community's concerns regarding the Iranian nuclear program."

The Iranian, Brazilian, and Turkish foreign ministers agreed on May 17 that Iran will swap in Turkey most of its 3.5%-enriched uranium for 20%-enriched fuel for use in its Tehran scientific research reactor.

The deal, however, did not stop the Iran Six from continuing discussions, begun on April 19, on a draft Security Council resolution to impose additional sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has criticized Russia and China, which have previously spoken out against sanctions, for supporting the draft.

Topics: Iran, France

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