Europe

Europe

Germany presses new sanctions against Iran on UN nuclear report

10 November 2011 01:49 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. German government called on Wednesday for further sanctions against Iran after the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog released findings that Iran had engaged in projects and experiments relevant to the development of nuclear weapons, APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The German government has been concerned for a long time about the progress of Iran’s atomic program. The content of the report naturally reinforces these worries considerably," according to Steffen Seibert, spokesman of chancellor Angela Merkel.

He affirmed that Tehran must return to the negotiating table, be more transparent about its nuclear activities to the world’s powers, including United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

The International Atomic Energy Agency report would be presented at the United Nations next week, according to Steffen Seibert, stressing the need "to push for a clear resolution urging Iran to meet its commitments to the UN Security Council and return to the negotiating table".

"The detailed signs concerning a possible military dimension of the Iranian nuclear program are alarming," German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said, adding that new sanctions could be "inevitable" in case Iran refused talks.

"If Iran continues to refuse serious negotiations about its nuclear program, new, stricter sanctions will be unavoidable. The route via the most broadly shared sanctions possible is the right one." Westerwelle said, adding that discussions with European partners and allies were well underway.

The International Atomic Energy Agency released on Tuesday a report based on what it said"credible" intelligence, showing Tehran had conducted program "relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device."

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reaffirmed on Wednesday that his country "will not budge an iota" from its nuclear path.

The United Nations Security Council has imposed four rounds of sanctions against Iran over its nuclear activities.