EU Says IAEA Report ‘Aggravates’ Current Concerns, France Threatens More Sanctions
The European Union said Wednesday a U.N. atomic watchdog warning that Iran has worked towards building nuclear warheads "seriously aggravates" existing concerns over a military dimension in Tehran.
The International Atomic Energy Agency's report "seriously aggravates existing concerns on the nature of the Iranian nuclear program, since this report puts particular emphasis on information corroborated by the IAEA regarding possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program," said a spokeswoman.
"Overall these findings strongly indicate the existence of a full-fledged nuclear weapons development program in Iran," said Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
The IAEA report leant on "consistent, credible" evidence, she said.
Ashton represents six world powers -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- in stalled negotiations with Iran aimed at convincing Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities.
On top of existing U.N., U.S. and EU sanctions, Washington and France threatened to extend the West's sanctions against Iran following the report.
France called Wednesday for unprecedented sanctions if Iran continues to defy the world over its atomic program.
"If Iran refuses to abide by the demands of the international community and rejects all serious cooperation, we are prepared to adopt, with those countries that follow, unprecedented sanctions," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
"The unprecedented report that the International Atomic Energy Agency has just published strengthens France's profound concern about Iran's nuclear program," it said.
The ministry said that activities noted in the IAEA's report "are in violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and the IAEA's governing council. They have no credible civil purpose."
The report's elements on "militarization activities, along with the accumulation of enriched uranium and the intensive pursuit of ballistic tests paint a picture that leaves little doubt about Iran's intentions."
"All of this means that Iran has sought, and apparently continues to seek, the nuclear bomb under the cover of an alleged civilian and peaceful program."
Russia and China have expressed reservations about the publication of the IAEA report and may block a fifth round of United Nations sanctions in the Security Council.
Source: Agence France Presse
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