The EU and Russia urged Iran today to comply with the UN nuclear watchdog's demand that it suspend all activities connected with uranium enrichment.
"The EU. . . calls on Iran to heed the content of the resolution adopted by last week's (IAEA) board of governors, in particular with regard to the necessity to suspend fully all its enrichment-related activities," the head of the Dutch delegation told a meeting of members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on behalf of the EU.
Yesterday, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Mr Hassan Rohani said that Tehran rejected as illegal the demand in the IAEA resolution, which was sponsored by France, Britain and Germany.
Enrichment is a process that can be used to develop atomic weapons but is permitted under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The EU's "big three" powers have been negotiating with Iran since last year to persuade Iran to abandon its uranium enrichment programme, which the United States and some other countries believe Tehran intends to use to make fissile material for weapons.
Iran denies wanting atomic weapons and says its nuclear programme is for the peaceful generation of electricity.
Dutch ambassador Mr Justus de Visser said of the IAEA's investigation of Iran's nuclear programme: "It is a matter of serious concern that a number of issues after two years still await clarification."
In Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement taking a similar line to the EU's. "Tehran has been urged to re-impose a moratorium on all uranium enrichment activities. We back this call," it said.
Russia, which normally steers clear of political debate over Iran, is helping Tehran build a nuclear reactor at the port of Bushehr despite strong pressure from the United States.