EU foreign ministers weigh push for new sanctions against Iran

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The European Union's chief negotiator in the dispute over Iran's nuclear program will consult with the bloc's foreign ministers Monday about whether to push for new sanctions to try to force Tehran to stop enriching uranium. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana will brief the 27 ministers on the bloc's options, as France and Britain argue for new penalties to push Iran to stop enrichment work, which they fear could be aimed at producing weapons. A report released last week by the UN's nuclear watchdog agency found Iran has been generally truthful in the information it has provided the agency about aspects of its past nuclear activities. But the International Atomic Energy Agency said it still could not rule out that Iran had a secret weapons program because of restrictions Tehran placed on its inspectors two years ago. Alvaro Mendonca e Moura, Portugal's EU ambassador, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, said Solana would outline steps the bloc could take.