Solana rules out military action against Iran

European Union chief diplomat Javier Solana told a German newspaper that any military action against Iran was not in consideration of EU nations despite its resumption of nuclear research.

In an interview with Bild am Sonntag, which released the story Saturday one day before publication, Solana said, "A military intervention against Iran does not even come into question."

The decision of European countries to refer Iran to the UN Security Council "in no way" meant the end of negotiations, he told the paper, "On the contrary, we continue to favor a diplomatic solution. But it is now up to the Iranian government to signal its cooperation."

He echoed the German government's remarks that possible sanctions were not current consideration, saying "At the moment we are concerned with a diplomatic solution. So we should not indulge in speculation about possible sanctions that are currently not even being contemplated."

Foreign ministers of EU troika, Britain, France and Germany, and Solana met here Thursday and decided to refer Iran to the UN Security Council after the Islamic republic removed Tuesday UN seal on its uranium enrichment facilities and resumed nuclear activities after a two-year freeze.

Highly enriched uranium can be used to make a nuclear weapon, while uranium enriched to lower levels can serve as fuel.

A last-ditch round of European-Iranian talks had been scheduled for Jan. 18.

On Friday, the German government expressed its rejection of anymilitary action against Iran, saying it was still willing to hold dialogue with Tehran on condition that it halts its latest nuclear research, possible economic sanctions against Iran was not the current consideration of the German government.

Imposing economic sanctions against Iran for its nuclear policy would be a "very dangerous path", German Deputy Foreign Minister Gernot Erler told a German radio to be broadcast Sunday.

Source: Xinhua