Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz said Wednesday that "the remarks made by International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed Elbaradei, that there is no information on Iran's military nuclear plan were a very bad surprise.
"The report he is composing is extremely important for the imposition of further sanctions on Iran,
both at the UN Security Council and in the European Union," Mofaz, who in charge of the strategic relations between Israel
and the United States, told EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana during a meeting in Jerusalem.
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The two reports, which will be submitted in the coming days, will be used as the basis for a decision by the Security Council's five permanent members and Germany regarding a third rounds of sanctions against Tehran.
Solana's report is significant also in terms of a possibility of imposing independent sanctions on Iran by the EU, a move which is being advanced by France.
Solana met Wednesday morning with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert.
In his meeting with Mofaza, he conveyed the message that Europe has no plans to ignore reality.
Ignoring reality may halt the international move against Iran, he said.
"China and Russia were looking for an excuse to avoid such sanctions," Mofaz told Solana.
The EU foreign policy chief is expected to meet with President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni later in the day.
"I hope the European Union will be part of the united front against an Iranian nuclear progress, and will push and encourage the sanctions. The Iranian strategy is an attempt to stall, while the nuclear program moves forward fast," the minister said.
Addressing the upcoming US-sponsored Mideast peace conference,
Mofaz told Solana, "I have a lot of experience with the Palestinians. Over the past 14 years we have seen many drafts which have not been implemented.
"I hope that the main product of the Annapolis conference will be bolstering the Palestinian Authority. At the moment the Palestinians are unable to control cities in the West Bank. Goodwill is not enough.
"They must have the power in every aspect. The Palestinians have asked for a timetable for the implementation of the permanent agreement, but processes cannot be cut short; we refer to a permanent agreement in terms of months. I do not see a permanent agreement before an interim agreement."
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