Finland: EU will impose Iran sanctions if UN stalls on issue
There is 'consensus enough' among EU members to push through EU-only sanctions, says Finland FM.
By DPA Tags: EU Iran sanctions Israel newsThere is "consensus enough" between European Union members to approve more EU sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program if the United Nations Security Council stalls on the issue, Finland's foreign minister said Saturday.
Alexander Stubb was speaking while hosting informal talks with the EU's foreign-policy director, Catherine Ashton, and seven other European foreign ministers in northern Finland. His comment came a week after talks with all 27 EU foreign ministers.
"I am quite hopeful that we will be able to get something in the UN Security Council. Failing there, we will just have to do it unilaterally, the EU directly to Iran," Stubb said.
There is "consensus enough" among the EU's member states to push through EU-only sanctions, Stubb said.
Major EU foreign-policy decisions such as the imposition of new sanctions are traditionally taken by unanimity.
The EU already has a range of trade bans in place on Iran in a bid to pressure it into opening its controversial uranium-enrichment program to UN inspectors.
So far, EU policy has been to maintain those sanctions, urge Iran to return to talks and keep more punitive action in reserve in case the UN Security Council calls for it.
But Iran's February decision to boost its enrichment program outraged European officials and led to calls for new UN measures.
And recent comments from UN veto holder China, which still insists diplomacy is the best approach to dealing with Tehran, have led some EU ministers to urge the bloc to impose its own measures.
Stubb said that member states had suggested a range of possible sanctions, including on energy trade and the financial sector.
Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, who also attended the informal talks in the Finnish ski resort of Saariselka, said that "we do not want to see any more sanctions in our region."
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Finland Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb. |
| Photo by: (Getty Images) |
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Good for the Finns who have al last realised the serious consequences of Shiite nuclear games ,yes time for even tighter sanctions against Tehran?
Achmed must be 'shaking' with fear (or is it laughter)?
"The EU already has a range of trade bans in place on Iran in a bid to pressure it into opening its controversial uranium-enrichment program to UN inspectors." Implying that the "controversial" enrichment program is _not_ open to UN inspectors. Which is a flat-out-lie. The EU is just being a tool again in yet another war-enabling project. Film at 11.
"Its unfair to talk about sanctions on Iran which has done no harm to anyone....." No kidding Sherlock,no matter numbers of nicks you use here you remain the only one defending Iranian murderers and warmongers. 1.Iran occupies Abu Musa and the Lesser and Greater Tunbs, islands located near key shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf and claimed by the United Arab Emirates. 2.Egypt announced it had crushed a major Iranian plot and arrested 68 people. According to Egyptian media, four are members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), Tehran`s principal vehicle for exporting its revolution. 3.In Bahrain, Tehran hopes to see its allies sweep to power through mass demonstrations and terrorist operations. Bahrain`s ruling clan has arrested scores of pro-Iran militants.Ali Akbar Nateq-Nuri, a senior aide to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described Bahrain as "part of Iran." 4.Moroccan security dismantled a network of pro-Iran militants allegedly plotting violent operations. 5.U.S. District Judge Ellen Segal Huvelle said Iran was responsible for the truck bombing at the Israeli Embassy in Argentina. The blast killed 29 people, including David Ben-Rafael, who was born in the United States before emigrating to Israel. On October 25, 2006, Argentine prosecutors Alberto Nisman and Marcelo Martínez Burgos formally accused the government of Iran of directing the bombing, and the Hezbollah militia of carrying it out. According to the prosecution`s claims in 2006, Argentina had been targeted by Iran after Buenos Aires` decision to suspend a nuclear technology transfer contract to Tehran.
which is strongly in support of Iran being able to continue its oresent civilian nuclear program, to act as mediator on this issue? BTW, Brazil may not have a UNSC throne, but it and many other countries that don't buy into the US/Israel phobias do have votes. China could choose not to use its veto, but that still wouldn't give the US a path to sanctions.
Its unfair to talk about sanctions on Iran which has done no harm to anyone, while Israel continues to subjugate and torture Palestinians in this day and age after over 60 years of slavery and ghetoization. Why is EU so afraid of Israel? Israel a nation that has ignored many a UN resolution, yet no one dares impose an economic boycott, yet the EU finds its moral compass only against Iran....why the double standards?
Born to fail I guess, that's our curse. Actually Bershire, Israel is an old partner and friend of Europe (though it is getting more sauer now, this friendship)and the Iranians are playing a dangerous and agressive game, already by rethoric alone, though I do not believe they will ever attack Israel with a nuke or Europe or the US for that. It 's not only Israel, Israel may have nukes but they do not want to use them to grab Iraq and harrass the Saudis for instance as the Iranians do. Nukes for Israel are an 'ultimum remedium', when survival can no longer be archieved otherwise. European sanctions can weaken the Mollah's and Ahmadinejad and free the Iranians from them (70% population younger then 30 I believe) and we do love the Persians (their poems and arrogance), so let's do it (will the Finish stop selling Nokia's in Iran I suddenly wonder).
Because it is only illegal to produce/own nuclear weapons if a country is a signatory to the non proliferation treaty (NPT) that most countries have signed. Israel not among them. Since Israel never promised/swore that it would not seek such weapons as per that agreement, it isn't a violation of law. Iran on the other hand signed that treaty and is currently violating it, thus breaking international law. Big difference.
The world has been sound asleep these past 5 years as Iran has ranted about destroying Israel and quietly developing the technology to develop nuclear weapons. If this wasn't so pathetic it would be hilarious!!
How can the EU place sanctions on Iran for not disclousing their nuclear ambitions and at the same time talk about upgrading Israel's trade agreements while Israel already has nuclear weapons? Hypocracy!