The comments came after talks between Robert Gates and France’s Herve Morin this week.
At a joint press conference, Morin said sanctions are bearing fruit and underscored deep divisions within the clerical regime.
According to Reuters, Morin added, “We have to display absolute determination," on the application of the sanctions. "On this topic, nobody should display any kind of weakness."
US Secretary of Defense Robert Gates highlighted the impact of the latest UN Security Council resolution against the clerical regime and added that sanctions approved in June had provided a crucial legal platform for individual nations to enact additional measures.