France and Germany Support Tighter Iran Sanctions
2009-9-1 2:5
France and Germany have been discussing further sanctions against Iran because of its nuclear program. They are in agreement with the U.S. that Iran needs to get on board or face harsher penalties.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy discussed Iran's nuclear program on Monday.
U.S. President Barack Obama has given Iran until September to take up a six-power offer of talks on trade if it shelves nuclear enrichment. If not, Iran will face harsher penalties.
Sarkozy says Germany and France shared the same opinion about tighter sanctions.
[Nicolas Sarkozy, French President]:
"We have supported president Obama in reaching out his hand, but we cannot reach out our hands forever to leaders who are not responding, and that's why initiatives must be taken in September to show that Iran is willing or not willing to cooperate. If Iran wants to cooperate, we would agree to that, but if Iran doesn't want to cooperate, then Germany and France will together discuss tighter sanctions.”
Merkel said Tehran should realize how "very serious" a September deadline is for negotiations on its nuclear program.
[Angela Merkel, German Chancellor]:
"Iran has to know that we are very serious about the deadline.”
The Merkel-Sarkozy meeting came ahead of the G20 in Pittsburgh, where further sanctions against Iran could be on the agenda.
