Brazil, Turkey promote diplomatic solution on Iran

Updated at: 0815 PST, Saturday, April 17, 2010
BRASILIA: Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglo reiterated Friday their nations' opposition to new sanctions against Iran, promoting renewed dialogue instead.

"We will continue to work together to arrive at a diplomatic solution on Iran and we hope that in the course of the coming week we can make some progress on this front," Davutoglo said during a press conference.

Brazil and Turkey, both non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, have proven resistant to a recent US push for new sanctions against Iran in response to its nuclear program, which many fear masks a weapons drive.

Davutoglo earlier Friday met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacia Lula da Silva, who has embraced the Iranian regime, including controversial President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Davutoglo noted Friday that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Erdogan also discussed the Iranian issue with Lula during a nuclear security summit held in Washington earlier this week.

Both Davutoglo and Lula are expected to visit Iran in coming weeks, even as US President Barack Obama and top administration officials work with their Western counterparts to secure support for new UN sanctions from China and Russia.

"After the talks in Washington, we must now exchange views with our Iranian colleagues... and then we shall see what progress we have made," Davutoglo said.