The European Union warned Iran today that their future relations depended on it respecting its commitment to freeze sensitive nuclear activities.
In addition, EU foreign ministers expressed dismay at the exclusion of reformist candidates from next month's Iranian presidential election by a conservative Islamic watchdog, saying it meant the poll would not be truly democratic.
Meeting two days before crucial talks in Geneva between the three leading EU powers and Iran, the 25 ministers urged Tehran to stick to its pledge to suspend uranium enrichment and related activities that could help it develop nuclear weapons.
"There was a clear reaffirmation that the Iranians have to respect the commitments they entered into last November under the Paris agreement. These commitments cannot be circumvented," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told a news conference after chairing the meeting.
"This is very important for further relations between the EU and Iran." He did not say what the EU would do if Tehran made good on a threat to resume the conversion of uranium into gas at a plant in Isfahan, a precursor to enriching it for nuclear fuel.
An EU official said the ministers supported the position of Britain, France and Germany, which have said that such a move would lead to Iran being referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told reporters he expected the talks with top Iranian negotiator Hassan Rohani in Geneva to be tough. "The issue before us on Wednesday will be to ensure that both sides stick by the commitments we have already entered into," Straw said.