Medvedev Warns Of Limits To Russia's Backing Of Iran Sanctions [View All]

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Source: Washington Post

PRAGUE -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told President Obama privately on Thursday that there remain limits to his country's support for sanctions on Iran, even as the move for united action to restrain Iran's nuclear ambition accelerates.

Obama and Medvedev together pledged support for Iranian sanctions to be imposed as soon as this spring, using the sidelines of a signing ceremony for a historic nuclear arms reduction treaty as a venue for private discussions.

The administration is pressing hard this month for a new U.N. Security Council resolution that would tighten sanctions on the Islamic Republic for refusing to engage in talks on its nuclear program, but it faces reluctance from China as well as such countries as Brazil and Turkey on the 15-member council.

Speaking to reporters after an 85-minute closed-door meeting with Medvedev, Obama expressed hope that negotiators in New York will secure "strong, tough sanctions on Iran this spring."

"We are going to be pushing very hard to make sure that both smart and strong sanctions end up being in place soon to send a signal to Iran and other countries that this is an issue that the international community takes seriously," Obama said.

In his remarks, Medvedev said he agreed that nations cannot "turn a blind eye" to Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons and said he "cannot disagree" with what Obama said. But Medvedev made clear that Russian support for sanctions will be conditioned on their intent to change Iran's behavior, not to punish its people.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/08/AR2010040803866.html