London preps for Iranian sanction talks

Robust measures under consideration by the European Union may undermine Iran's ability to finance its nuclear program, a British minister said. British Minister for Europe David Lidington sent a written statement to members of Parliament outlining the agenda for a Monday meeting with EU foreign ministers in Brussels. Lidington notes that EU ministers "should" get a package that would expand European sanctions against Iran. Those include, he noted, an oil embargo and restrictions imposed on the Iranian financial sector. "If agreed, these measures will reflect the degree of EU concern about the continued development of the Iran's nuclear program," he said. "These robust measures aim to reduce Iran's ability to fund its nuclear program and to encourage it to resume serious and meaningful negotiations." The International Atomic Energy Agency last year said it believed there were military aspects to Iran's nuclear program, giving opponents more reason to suspect Iran is trying to develop technology needed to build a nuclear weapon. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi maintained Tehran was willing to have multiparty talks with leading nuclear powers, Iran's state-funded broadcaster Press TV reports. Salehi added this gesture comes despite the assassination of some of its nuclear scientists, the latest of which was blamed on Israel. Iran maintains that, as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the right to develop a peaceful nuclear program.