G-8: Iran has 3 months to stop uranium enrichment

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS – Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Thursday that the Group of Eight nations is giving Iran until the end of the year to commit to ending uranium enrichment and avoid new sanctions.

Frattini, whose nation holds the rotating chair of the club of wealthy nations known as the G-8, said the member's foreign ministers agreed Wednesday night to give Iran more time.

"It seems to me a reasonable perspective. And after the end of December, I strongly hope we will have at that time practical moves from Iran," Frattini said.

"That's why together we decided while not excluding further measures, as even Russia apparently said, we have to give Iran a serious chance," he said. "If we give a chance, let's give a chance. Don't, I would say, immediately put another option on the table. This would be counterproductive to the eyes of our counterpart. This is our strategy for the moment."

The U.S. has only just won Russian agreement to consider new sanctions against Iran to add pressure on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who insists Tehran's nuclear program is designed only to generate electricity.

Frattini said that the informal agreement will be re-examined each month until the end of the year.

He said the G-8 could not let the Iranians believe the world's economic powers are "relaxed" and willing to let Iran string them along.

"But we are to make it absolutely clear that our window of opportunity will not remain open indefinitely," Frattini told a group of reporters on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

Frattini said G-8 ministers — the U.S., Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Japan and Russia — also agreed that "concerning links" were emerging between Iran and North Korea.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev opened the door Wednesday to backing potential sanctions. He moved in that direction after President Barack Obama scrapped plans for a U.S. missile shield in Eastern Europe.

While U.S. and Russian officials denied a quid pro quo, Medvedev told the U.N. General Assembly that Obama's roll-back on the missile defense plan "deserves a positive response." Obama himself has said his missile decision may have spurred Russian good will as a "bonus."

Ahmadinejad has taken a softer tone on many matters since arriving in New York for the U.N. meetings, emphasizing his interest in improving relations with the United States and expressing an openness to include nuclear matters on the negotiations agenda.

He has given no sign, however, that his country is willing to bargain away its nuclear program.

A member of the Russian delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the Russians, said Moscow's final position on the question of imposing further sanctions would be determined, to a large extent, by Medvedev's consultations here.

The U.S. and Russia are among six countries that will hold talks in Europe next week with Iran over its nuclear ambitions. Obama wants to reserve the possibility of pursuing tougher sanctions if those meetings lead to no restraint by Iran in the weeks ahead. Russia, which has strong economic ties with Tehran, has stood in the way of stronger action against Iran in the past.