EU hails Obama's new openness toward Iran
EU foreign ministers: Tehran's response to Washington also will set the tone for Iran's relations with Europe.
By The Associated Press Tags: Iran US EU Israel newsPresident Barack Obama's new openness toward Iran is a chance for Tehran to reconnect with the international community and find a negotiated settlement to the nuclear issue, the European Union said Monday.
"The EU warmly supports the new direction of U.S. policy toward Iran, which opens a window of opportunity for negotiations on all aspects of Iran's nuclear program," the EU foreign ministers said in a statement issued during their monthly meeting.
They said Tehran's response to Washington also will set the tone for Iran's relations with Europe, which have soured over concern about Iran's nuclear enrichment program.
The EU statement comes a day after Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the Union, told Haaretz that the European Union "underestimates the Iranian threat."
The U.S. and its allies suspect Iran is developing nuclear arms under the guise of the civilian atomic energy program. Iran denies that, but last week it inaugurated a plant producing uranium fuel pellets for a planned heavy-water nuclear reactor, the final step in the sophisticated nuclear fuel cycle.
Since taking office in January, Obama has made overtures to Iran's leaders, saying he ready for a dialogue. Recently, he released a video message to the people of Iran.
Iran has been mostly lukewarm to Obama's overtures. The U.S., major European countries and China have invited Iran to another round of nuclear talks. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said his country is preparing a new package of proposals aimed at resolving the dispute - but Tehran insists that it won't halt its uranium enrichment activities.
On Monday, the EU urged Iran to respond positively to Obama to find a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue. The evolution of our relations with Iran will also depend on it.
Under former President George W. Bush, the United States said talks could only occur if Iran first suspended the uranium enrichment. Under Obama, that condition fell away, with U.S. officials saying they may be willing to allow Iran to continue enrichment for a period of time while negotiations are under way. Still, a suspension of Iran's activity remains the ultimate goal.
The EU foreign ministers welcomed Washington's change of heart, opening the way for more nuclear talks.
They said, The EU calls upon Iran to seize this opportunity to engage seriously with the international community ... to find a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue which will address Iran's interests, including the development of a civil nuclear power generation program.
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