G20: Iran's nuclear program watched by superpowers
U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have agreed to consider additional sanctions on Iran if it failed to respond to Western proposals.
Mr. Obama demanded Iran "come clean" about its nuclear program and said the unity of the global community should put the Islamic Republic "on notice" that it must heed international rules.
There is "unity on the part of the world community saying that Iran's actions raised grave doubts in terms of their presentation that their nuclear program was for peaceful purposes," Obama said at a news conference concluding a summit of the Group of 20 nations in Pittsburgh.
"Sanctions, serious additional sanctions, remain a possibility," he said, calling on Tehran to "seize the opportunity" of negotiations with the six powers (Germany, China and the U.S., France, Britain and Russia) on the Iranian nuclear case.
Mr. Medvedev, who has expressed public doubts about the value of sanctions, indicated that he is open to enforcing penalties on Iran. "Sanctions may be inevitable," he said.
"When all instruments have been used and failed, one can use international legal sanctions," Medvedev said.
He said nations should promote "positive incentives for Iran" to try to win compliance from the country. "Should we fail in that case, we'll consider other options," Medvedev said.
Mr. Obama demanded Iran "come clean" about its nuclear program and said the unity of the global community should put the Islamic Republic "on notice" that it must heed international rules.
There is "unity on the part of the world community saying that Iran's actions raised grave doubts in terms of their presentation that their nuclear program was for peaceful purposes," Obama said at a news conference concluding a summit of the Group of 20 nations in Pittsburgh.
"Sanctions, serious additional sanctions, remain a possibility," he said, calling on Tehran to "seize the opportunity" of negotiations with the six powers (Germany, China and the U.S., France, Britain and Russia) on the Iranian nuclear case.
Mr. Medvedev, who has expressed public doubts about the value of sanctions, indicated that he is open to enforcing penalties on Iran. "Sanctions may be inevitable," he said.
"When all instruments have been used and failed, one can use international legal sanctions," Medvedev said.
He said nations should promote "positive incentives for Iran" to try to win compliance from the country. "Should we fail in that case, we'll consider other options," Medvedev said.
