KRANJ, Slovenia: Opening a farewell tour of Europe, President George W. Bush won European support on Tuesday for a proposal to consider tougher sanctions on Iranian banks as a lever against Tehran's nuclear program. Bush held a final summit with leaders of the European Union in this small town in Slovenia, the country he chose for his first foray into Europe as president seven years ago. A joint statement after the meeting urged Iran to "comply with its international obligations concerning its nuclear activities." The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna has registered "serious concern" about Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons. The issue has become more immediate following a warning by Israel's transportation minister, Shaul Mofaz, that an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites would be "unavoidable" if weapons programs proceed.
KRANJ, Slovenia: Opening a farewell tour of Europe, President George W. Bush won European support on Tuesday for a proposal to consider tougher sanctions on Iranian banks as a lever against Tehran's nuclear program.
Bush held a final summit with leaders of the European Union in this small town in Slovenia, the country he chose for his first foray into Europe as president seven years ago.
A joint statement after the meeting urged Iran to "comply with its international obligations concerning its nuclear activities." The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna has registered "serious concern" about Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons.
The issue has become more immediate following a warning by Israel's transportation minister, Shaul Mofaz, that an Israeli attack on Iranian nuclear sites would be "unavoidable" if weapons programs proceed.
Europe and the US warned they will impose new sanctions on Iran if it refuses to suspended uranium enrichment. Iran, Russia's meddling in Georgia and trade were top issues at a Tuesday, June 10 US-European Union summit. United States President George W. Bush started his last trip to Europe by focusing on points of agreement in trans-Atlantic diplomacy. At the top of the list was a joint warning to Iran that both the EU and US are prepared to add their own round of sanctions to those that the United Nations has already imposed. The joint warning calls on Tehran to freeze its suspect nuclear program or face "additional measures," which would likely be aimed at Iranian banks. "We will continue to work together ... to take steps to ensure Iranian banks cannot abuse the international banking system to support proliferation and terrorism," the leaders said. Yet Europeans also seemed keen to signal to Iran that they believed a "mutually satisfactory, negotiated solution" could be found.
United States President George W. Bush started his last trip to Europe by focusing on points of agreement in trans-Atlantic diplomacy. At the top of the list was a joint warning to Iran that both the EU and US are prepared to add their own round of sanctions to those that the United Nations has already imposed.
The joint warning calls on Tehran to freeze its suspect nuclear program or face "additional measures," which would likely be aimed at Iranian banks.
"We will continue to work together ... to take steps to ensure Iranian banks cannot abuse the international banking system to support proliferation and terrorism," the leaders said.
Yet Europeans also seemed keen to signal to Iran that they believed a "mutually satisfactory, negotiated solution" could be found.
"We will continue to work together ... to take steps to ensure Iranian banks cannot abuse the international banking system to support proliferation and terrorism," the leaders said. Yet Europeans also seemed keen to signal to Iran that they believed a "mutually satisfactory, negotiated solution" could be found.
