LONDON, April 24 -- British Foreign Secretary David Miliband is to attend the next General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, where he will seek full backing of the European Union (EU) to the changed US policy towards Iran.
"We will encourage the EU to state its clear support for the new US approach," Foreign Office Minister Lord Malloch-Brown (pictured) said in a written parliamentary statement published Friday.
"We will stress the opportunity that the E3+3 offer presents to Iran and the necessity for the EU to give its full backing to the renewed diplomatic efforts and the dual track strategy," Malloch-Brown said.
"We will look to the council to issue conclusions to that effect," he said regarding the agenda of the latest regular EU foreign ministers' meeting.
The meeting is the first since the E3+3 earlier this month set a new US-led approach to break the logjam in the years of dispute over Iran's civilian nuclear program, instructing the EU High Representative to invite Iran for talks to find a "diplomatic solution."
The British foreign office minister confirmed that Monday's discussions in Luxembourg are "likely to focus on the US Administration's decision to engage directly with Iran and play a full role in future E3+3 negotiations."
"Member states will also look to the council secretariat to update them on the Iranian response to the E3+3's invitation to recommence talks as soon as possible," he also said.
Malloch-Brown further told MPs that the British government would "encourage further discussions on Iran over the coming months in the EU as the diplomatic situation develops."
Following the change of approach, the Foreign Office told IRNA that Britain was hopeful that the "new direction" of US policy under President Barack Obama towards Iran would lead to progress to resolve the dispute over the country's civilian program.
"The US reiteration of the importance of pursuing a diplomatic solution through the dual track approach; and its commitment to be directly involved in future E3+3 meetings with representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran has the potential to give renewed impetus to international efforts on the nuclear file," said Foreign Office spokesman Barry Marston.
He said that in the medium term, the US' readiness for direct engagement with Iran presents the "opportunity for a transformed relationship" between Iran and the US.
"These are prospects which Britain strongly welcomes," he added. (PNA/IRNA)