Schroeder Calls for New EU Offer to Iran in Nuclear Talks

Radio Free Europe:

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has called for the European Union to put forward new proposals to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program. Schroeder, speaking to reporters traveling with him on a visit to Washington, said Iran cannot be blocked from the civilian use of nuclear energy, but that the EU needs credible guarantees that Iran will not build atomic bombs. READ MORE

Schroeder is expected to meet later today with U.S. President George W. Bush to discuss the Iranian nuclear situation following the election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as Iran's new president.

Ahmadinejad on 26 June vowed that Iran would pursue peaceful nuclear development under his leadership. But he also said the nuclear talks with the EU - led by Germany, France, and Britain - were likely to continue, though with Iran's "national interest" in mind.

The EU has offered Iran incentives to abandon uranium-enrichment activities that could be used to develop nuclear weapons.