EU3 warn of new Iran sanctions

EU Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium

Major European powers warn they will consider new sanctions on Iran after discussing the Islamic Republic's letter to the European Union.

Following a Wednesday telephone conference, Britain, France, and Germany accused Iran of providing an 'insufficient' and 'disappointing' response to the Western package of proposals which requires the country to suspend its nuclear enrichment program.

British Junior Foreign Minister Kim Howells said Iran had a clear choice between engagement and isolation, threatening that if Tehran 'continues to refuse to come to the negotiating table, the international pressure on Iran will only grow.'

Tehran says it will continue talks to reach a mutual agreement in the nuclear dispute, adding that 'issuing ultimatums, setting timetables, and threatening Iranians with sanctions are not a practical approach to the nuclear issue'.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier for his part said if Iran fails to cooperate on finding a negotiated solution to the nuclear issue 'the UN Security Council will be referred to once again.'

A French Foreign Ministry statement read that while Tehran's unclear response exposes the Islamic Republic to new sanctions, 'the path to dialogue [on Iran's nuclear case] remains open'.

Following Western ultimatums, a European diplomatic source warned that it was 'important not to break the chain of the negotiations'.

The West has so far imposed three rounds of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program and has repeatedly threatened Tehran with tougher sanctions and a military strike should the country continue uranium enrichment.