EU fires 'warning shot' over Iran's nuclear project

The European Union yesterday sent its toughest warning to Iran about its nuclear programme and over breaches of human rights, setting a September deadline for signs of concessions from Tehran.

In a strongly worded statement, EU foreign ministers expressed "increasing concern" about Iran's nuclear programme and demanded an "urgent and unconditional" acceptance of an international agreement to allow more stringent nuclear inspections.

The statement marks a distinct hardening of tone from the EU which has held out for a more nuanced policy of engagement with Tehran as Washington increases the political pressure on Iran.

Last month, EU foreign ministers toughened their line, coming closer to the American position, but stopped short of setting a deadline. Yesterday the ministers tried to turn the screw by saying that co-operation, including negotiations on a trade and co-operation agreement, will be reviewed in September, a move one EU diplomat called a "warning shot".

But Franco Frattini, the Foreign Minister of Italy which holds the EU presidency, said although concerns had been expressed, "we want to keep the dialogue open" and that "our job is to encourage Iran to take a step forward". An EU official added: "We are not closing any doors."

The central issue is whether Iran will sign an additional protocol of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty to allow for more extensive inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency. So far Tehran has failed to do so, insisting it has no plan to build nuclear weapons and simply wants to use nuclear power to meet its electricity needs.

EU ministers also expressed their "deep concern" over human rights abuses in the country, and their "deep shock" at the violent death in custody of a Canadian photojournalist, Zahra Kazemi. Iran must prosecute those responsible, the statement said.

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Silvan Shalom, said Tehran had an illegal nuclear weapons programme: "Iran is trying to do everything to have a nuclear weapon ... threatening not only the Middle East, [but] threatening Europe [and] the southern part of Russia."