France wants rapid Iran sanctions

France has intensified calls for imposing a fresh round of UN sanctions on Iran, citing concern over the UN nuclear watchdog’s latest report.

“In light of the report, the Six (five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany) have no choice but to seek the rapid adoption of a new sanctions resolution,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero was quoted as saying on Tuesday by AFP.

In the report, a copy of which was obtained by Press TV, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said “concerns” remain over Iran’s nuclear program, as Tehran’s low-enriched uranium stash had grown to 2.4 tons.

The Agency adds that it found “no indications of ongoing reprocessing related activities” at the Tehran research reactor and another nuclear facility, but stressed on the importance of Iran’s cooperation with the watchdog.

“The (IAEA) report demonstrates a complete lack of progress on the various subjects that are at the core of the international community’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear program,” the ministry said in a statement.

This is while the IAEA report clearly states that “the Agency continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran.”

The report comes two weeks after Iran, Brazil and Turkey issued a joint nuclear fuel swap declaration following in a bid to find a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran’s nuclear program.

The initiative was aimed at rendering the US-led campaign for more Iran sanctions unnecessary, with Iran announcing readiness to swap its low enriched uranium on Turkish soil for fuel for a research reactor.

Despite the declaration, Washington and its European allies, which accuse Iran of pursuing a military nuclear program, demanded that the sanctions remain on the table unless Iran suspends its enrichment activities.

Iran rejects the allegations, saying that as an IAEA member and a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) it has the right to a peaceful nuclear program.

Tehran has also stressed that there is no clauses in the IAEA statute or the NPT that would require it to suspend enrichment on demand.