Solana: Syria War May Be Obstacle to Iran Nuclear Talks
Javier Solana, former NATO secretary-general and foreign policy chief for the European Union, warns that the Syria war is threatening the unity of nations negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program.
As the United States and its negotiating partners prepare to return to talks with Iran this weekend, the conflict in Syria may present a new obstacle to agreement, according to Javier Solana.
The former NATO secretary-general and foreign policy chief for the European Union told a Washington audience Monday [April 1] that “solving the [nuclear] problem will be very difficult” while fighting rages in Syria.
Solana, who headed nuclear talks with Iran from 2003-2009, noted Iran’s ties to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, which, Solana said, were closer than those between many NATO allies.
Solana also said that he worries about maintaining unity among the P5 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council) if the nuclear talks do not make progress and the bloodshed in Syria continues.
