WASHINGTON, May 18, 2013 (AFP) – The United States and European nations should take “decisive sanctions” against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Friday.
“Given the inflexibility of Iran’s position, this dual, sanctions-dialogue approach should allow us to increase pressure on Iran in the coming months as the Iranian uranium enrichment program continues to expand in quantity and quality,” Le Drian said.
“More than ever we have a responsibility to defeat this strategy of procrastination and concealment to ensure nuclear non-proliferation,” he added during a talk at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank.
“This responsibility justifies the strong commitment of ours, alongside our American allies and European partners, for the implementation of decisive sanctions.”
The United Nations and Western nations have imposed a range of sanctions on Iran for several years in an effort to deter Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian program to develop nuclear energy.
Le Drian also met the head of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin, during his visit to Washington, where Syrian war was discussed.
Levin, who has urged President Barack Obama to consider pursuing limited military options against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, later said Le Drian had not dismissed the possibility out of hand.
France may consider military options, but only if a European embargo on arms was lifted, Levin said.
