EU Officials to Discuss Iran's Nuclear Problem in Moscow

RIA Novosti:

Iran's nuclear program will dominate talks between Russia and the European Union in Moscow Wednesday, as the two most proactive players in a dispute that has threatened to bring the Islamic republic's "nuclear file" to the UN Security Council continue their efforts to find a solution to the problem.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will meet with EU Commissioner for External Relations and the European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, EU High Commissioner for Common Foreign and Security Policy Javier Solana, and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency. READ MORE

Ferrero-Waldner said the European Union wanted Iran to stop uranium enrichment activities and Russia, which is building a nuclear power plant in the Persian Gulf country, could be very helpful to this end. The commissioner talked about creating a united front on the nuclear program.

Iran has consistently said it wants to develop nuclear power for peaceful purposes, but some countries, led by the United States, doubt the veracity of such statements, particularly in the light of recent comments made by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Israel should be "wiped off the map."

The UN Security Council has the power to impose sanctions on Iran should it be found to be in breach of its international obligations.

The Moscow meeting will also focus on broader EU-Russia cooperation.