EU solves snag over Iran sanctions - Germany

BRUSSELS, Feb 12 (Reuters) - The European Union has solved a technical snag involving Spain and Britain that had threatened to hold up implementation by the bloc of UN sanctions on Iran, EU President Germany said today.

''Both states concerned presented a solution and this morning this was received without any further discussion,'' German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier told reporters before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

The snag centred on Spain's refusal to accept an EU text listing Gibraltar as among ''competent authorities'' to apply the sanctions, reflecting the centuries-old dispute between Britain and Spain on Gibraltar.

Steinmeier said EU states would look at an Iranian offer to resume talks on its disputed nuclear programme.

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