DATE=9/30/03

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAN / E-U (S-O)

NUMBER=2-308064

BYLINE=GREG LaMOTTE

DATELINE=CAIRO

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: Iran's foreign ministry is rejecting an E-U warning that Tehran must ease international concerns regarding, among other things, its nuclear program. As V-O-A's Greg LaMotte reports from Cairo, the foreign ministry called the warning unacceptable.

TEXT: European Union foreign ministers warned Iran that if Tehran fails to satisfy international concerns regarding nuclear non-proliferation, human rights, global terrorism, and Iran's opposition to the Middle East peace process, it could face a costly economic loss of a lucrative trade accord.

Iran's foreign ministry responded by saying the E-U warning was unacceptable. The foreign ministry said in a statement that the warning was not within the principles of cooperation.

Iran is facing enormous international pressure to make its nuclear program fully transparent.

A team of inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrives Thursday in Tehran for negotiations about resuming inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities. The I-A-E-A has given Tehran an October 31st deadline to prove it is not engaged in producing nuclear weapons.

Washington has accused Tehran of using its nuclear program as a cover to build atomic weapons. Iran has vehemently denied the charge. (SIGNED)

NEB/GL/ALW/KL/RAE