Obama would like to see UN sanctions against Iran "in weeks"
31/03/201004:22
WASHINGTON, March 31 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. President Barack Obama said Tuesday he would like to see international sanctions imposed on Iran as soon as possible.
"I'm not interested in waiting months for a sanctions regime to be put in place. I'm interested in seeing that regime in place within weeks," Obama told a White House press conference he held jointly with French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy, who is in the United States on a visit.
Iran's recent move to begin enriching uranium to 20% sparked a wave of international criticism, with the United States leading calls for new harsher sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Western powers suspect that Iran's nuclear program is aimed at making weapons, while Tehran claims it is pursuing nuclear technology for its civilian energy needs.
"We came in with a very clear approach, a very clear strategy...We said that we would engage Iran and give them an opportunity to take the right path, a path that would lead to prosperity and opportunity for the people and a peaceful region," the U.S. leader said.
"The alternative path was further isolation and further consequences," Obama said.
Sarkozy urged making decisions regarding the Islamic republic. "The time has come to take decisions. Iran cannot continue its mad race," he said.
Earlier U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton, who is in Canada at a G8 foreign ministerial meeting, said consultations on the Iranian nuclear problem will be held in the UN Security Council soon.
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