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Solana Visits Iran Seeking Nuclear Dialogue
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana arrived in Iran last night for a two-day visit intended to boost nuclear dialogue between Europe and Tehran, the Financial Times reported (see GSN, Jan. 9). “Relations with an important country like Iran are based on mutual respect,” Solana said. “We try to solve problems thought the mechanism of dialogue and not through any other way,” he added. After meeting with European foreign ministers, Iran agreed last year to sign the Additional Protocol to its nuclear safeguards agreement and allow U.N. nuclear inspectors greater access to Iranian nuclear facilities. “The challenge (for the EU) is to make it clear that it takes Iran’s security concerns seriously, while showing that nuclear weapons are not the answer,” said Steven Everts, a senior researcher at the Center for European Reform in London. Tehran Asserts Nuclear RightsMeanwhile, Iranian leaders lashed out at the United States recently — shortly after some observers had seen signs of diminished animosity between the two longtime rivals. There is “no sign of U.S. animosity towards Iran decreasing,” said Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran (Gareth Smyth, Financial Times, Jan. 11). “They have wrongly accused us of having nuclear weapons,” said Iranian President Mohammad Khatami. “We have signed the Additional Protocol and if the Americans have goodwill now they should take back their words and also accept our legal right to have peaceful nuclear technology under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency,” he added (Reuters/Gulf News, Jan. 11).
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