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EU Losing Patience with Iran

The European Union has indicated that it is considering limited sanctions against Teheran after the Iranian government spurned all conditions for opening negotiations on its controversial nuclear program. Meeting in Luxembourg this week, the heads of 25 European countries hinted that they were losing patience with the Middle Eastern power after four months of talks regarding Iran?s the suspension of Iran?s nuclear program came to naught.

The heads of the European Union made it clear that they would approach the Iranian problem as a unified body. They felt that the firm way in which they approached North Korea?s recent arm flexing was also important as it gave Teheran the message that there was ?no messing? with the balance of world power. Unlike the United States, the European Union relies strongly on Iran for its oil supply and thus it is felt that the sanctions against the country will not be as harsh as the measures taken against North Korea. If and when sanctions do go into effect, they will be gradual.

The European Union has demonstrated a remarkable amount of patience with the Iranian question. Despite an extremely attractive incentive package, the Iranian?s have continuously spurned the West?s attempts to reach a resolution through diplomatic channels. Now, after four exhausting months between EU foreign policy chief, Javier Solano and Teheran reached a dead end, the European Union doesn?t seem to have much choice but to commit to sanctions against Iran.