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EU Iran Plans, Going Nowhere, Still Get Support

The People`s Republic of China expressed Tuesday its backing for the European Union in resolving the dispute over Iranian nuclear program ambitions. In Beijing, China?s Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Iran should react positively to a European proposal (already since rejected by Teheran) to build a reactor to be monitored by Europe. However, many people are befuddled by continuing efforts to support the EU when the EU is getting nowhere with Iranian intransigence.

The Chinese spokesman said all sides need to make ?active efforts? to restart negotiations. Russia and China jointly ruled out use of force against Iran over its nuclear program after a meeting of Russian and Chinese foreign ministers in Beijing, though since both countries have extensive business interests in Iran it is easy to see why both oppose American-Western military intervention.

Earlier, Javier Solana, the European Union?s chief foreign diplomat, said the EU was ready to share the most sophisticated civilian nuclear technology with Iran if it agreed to halt uranium enrichment on its soil. However, Teheran called the offer "Europe offering walnuts in exchange for gold", and rejected it out of hand. Iran`s hardline government has not accepted a single European offer over the nuclear program of the Islamic Republic.