If you liked the Iraq crisis, you'll love the coming transatlantic clash over Iran.

Reuters -- European Union officials say they are bracing for the next tug-of-war in strained ties with Washington over whether to isolate or engage with the Islamic republic.

"This is going to be an important test," said Greek Foreign Minister George Papandreou, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency. "It will bring out the dilemmas we've had recently on Iraq."

The Europeans have urged Tehran to sign up to tougher U.N. nuclear safeguards, but it has deflected such suggestions, noting that even the United States and some EU states do not accept such intrusive inspections of their own facilities