(www.irna.ir) вЂ" EU Foreign Ministers' Council exchanged views on EU's Iran policy over lunch Monday and registered continued support for the two-track approach.
The Council said in a statement Monday night that the EU implements the measures in UN Security Council Resolution 1737, which are targeted against the most sensitive parts of the Iranian nuclear and missile programs.
At the same time, it continues to support efforts to find a negotiated long-term solution, which would open the way for a new relationship with Iran based on mutual respect and expanded cooperation, reports Trend.
In this context the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeiet, current President of the Council, and the EU High Representative Javier Solana briefed the ministers on their informal contacts with Iran's national security adviser, Ali Larijani, in Munich on Sunday.
The Council reached a political agreement on a draft common position concerning restrictive measures against Iran, with a view to implementing UN Security Council resolution 1737.
"The common position is aimed at imposing at EU level restrictive measures against Iran, namely a ban on the supply of goods and technology related to Iran's nuclear and missile programs; a visa ban against persons and a freeze of assets against persons and entities listed in resolution 1737 and other persons or entities associated with these programs; and steps to prevent specialized teaching or training of Iranian nationals in disciplines related to these fields," said the statement.
Observers, however, noted that despite the adoption of the common position by the Council a positive atmosphere on EU-Iran ties prevailed in Brussels on Monday.
Solana told reporters that "we want to see if we can resume a dialogue that may lead to real negotiations to find a solution in the crisis with Iran. В"
"We want very much to get a signal to the people and authorities of Iran that we are open to have a negotiated solution," he said Earlier, Solana had described his talks with Ali Larijani in Munich on Sunday as "constructive".
"I always have constructive talks with him," Solana told reporters ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
"We have now understood each others' position better. They know that the position of the European Union is to maintain always the door open for dialogue," he said
On his part, Steinmeir told a press conference, "We are not seeking escalation (with Iran)."
"We want a solution and will take any possible opportunities to reach that objective. We want Iran to make it possible to go back to the negotiating table. We need to see what the signals are from Iran, whether they are serious and what proposals are on the table," said the German foreign minister.
European Commissioner for external relations Benita Ferrero- Waldner told reporters on Monday that if Iran accepts suspension of uranium enrichment "there are many possibilities that we have. There are lots of positive things that we can offer to Iran."
"But they are not yet there, therefore, we have to repeat and repeat our calls."
"We would be willing to offer a really constructive relationship if we saw movement on the issues that matter to us most..." "We are also keen to develop our links with the (Iranian) civil society," she said, citing the recent European Commission decision to grant scholarships to Iranian students wishing to study in Europe.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohammed ElBaradei, on a visit to Brussels Monday ruled out any military solution to Iran's nuclear issue and stressed that there was no evidence of a nuclear weapons program in Iran.
Talking to reporters after talks with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt Monday afternoon, the IAEA chief said "We do not know if Iran has the industrial capacity to enrich uranium."
"We haven't seen any indication or concrete proof of a nuclear weapons program. I don't see what people mean when they talk about military solution," he said.
ElBaradei said Iran is very much interested in dialogue and in reaching a solution.
The sticking point, he said, is the issue of suspension of enrichment as confidence building measure.
He reiterated his "timeout" proposal in which Iran will suspend enrichment activities during the negotiating period and the international community will suspend the application of sanctions.