Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said on Wednesday that the European Union is ready to apply all the sanctions in its power against Iran if it breaks international laws on nuclear power.
"Europe is prepared to do all in its power so that international laws be upheld. Naturally, we will use all the sanctions available to us if Iran breaks the laws," said Socrates, whose country holds the EU's presidency until the end of the year.
"We hope Iran will keep to the law and negotiations will go ahead on this matter, ensuring that nuclear energy is not used for military ends in that nation. However, if this does not happen we are willing to back the use of pressure," he said.
Also on Wednesday, Luis Amado, Portugal's foreign minister and head of EU foreign policy until the end of the year, declined to comment on remarks by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that France had advised firms, including oil giant Total and gas firm Gaz de France, not to respond to tenders in Iran.
Kouchner said that France is also working with Germany on joint anti-Iran measures.
"I will not comment on my counterpart's statement without knowing the exact context and terms," said Amado.
He said that the EU's 27 foreign ministers would agree on a new joint position on Iran in a meeting to be held in Luxembourg in October and restated the current European position is to maintain diplomatic pressure on Tehran for it to comply.
Source: Xinhua
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