Brussels: Europe must follow through on its
pledge to impose sanctions on Iran`s energy sector in order to
coax Tehran back to the negotiating table over its nuclear
activities, a top US diplomat said on Tuesday.
Robert Einhorn, the US coordinator for Iran sanctions,
said he held meetings in Brussels with European Union
officials to discuss the measures being drafted after EU
leaders agreed this month to impose new sanctions.
"What we hope is that stronger measures on the pressure
side, on the sanctions side will give leaders in Iran strong
incentives to come to the negotiating table and work with us
on a solution to the nuclear issue," he told a press briefing.
"We very much welcome the declaration that was adopted on
June 17 by the European Council. This was a strong statement
of political intent to put in place effective measures that
could raise the stakes for the Iranian regime.
"That was a political statement. Now the political
statement needs to be translated into concrete, workable
measures," he said at the end of a two-day visit to Brussels.
The EU sanctions approved at the June summit include a ban
on new investment, technical assistance and technology
transfers to Iran`s huge gas and oil industry, particularly
for refining and liquefied natural gas.
"All of these categories are quite important," Einhorn
said, adding: "We`re hoping for strong and detailed measures
across the board."
PTI
