AFP: President Barack Obama told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday the United States would continue to press for UN sanctions on Iran, citing “fundamental concerns” about its nuclear drive.
WASHINGTON (AFP) — President Barack Obama told Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan Wednesday the United States would continue to press for UN sanctions on Iran, citing “fundamental concerns” about its nuclear drive.
In a telephone call, Obama acknowledged the deal forged by Turkey and Brazil for the Islamic republic to swap about half its low enriched uranium for nuclear fuel in Turkey, the White House said in a statement.
But Obama “stressed the international community’s continuing and fundamental concerns about Iran’s overall nuclear program, as well as Iran’s failure to live up to its international obligations,” it added.
“Further, he indicated that negotiations on a new UN Security Council resolution will continue, noting that Iran’s persistent refusal to meet with the P5+1 on Iran’s nuclear program and recent refusal to halt enriching uranium to nearly 20 percent, do not build confidence.”
The so-called P5+1 groups the five permanent members of the UN Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany.
The United States announced on Tuesday that it had the backing of Russia, China and the other powers for a draft UN Security Council resolution that would slap a fourth set of sanctions against Iran.
But Turkey and Brazil responded by calling on fellow members of the UN Security Council to give negotiations with Iran a chance and “avoid measures that are detrimental to a peaceful solution of this matter.”
Washington fears Tehran is seeking to build a nuclear arsenal under cover of its civilian nuclear program, a charge Tehran denies.
