Turkey Rejects Obama's Call for Sanctions Against Iran
Tehran, Dec. 08, 09 (Hamsayeh.Net) - US President Barack Obama met Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House on Monday to discuss issues of mutual interests. During the meeting Obama tried to persuade the Turkish Prime Minister for more supportive actions to help resolve Iran’s nuclear impasse which has gotten to a standstill since the passing of an anti-Iran resolution 10 days ago.
Obama called Turkey an important player in the region and believed Ankara could try to convince Tehran to accept Western demands regarding its nuclear program. Obama also asked Erdogan to support more punitive measures against Iran including what Washington terms as ‘crippling economic sanctions.’
However, shortly after his meeting with Obama the Turkish Prime Minister once again refused to support any sanctions against Iran saying those sanctions would be ineffective. Erdogan supported Iran’s nuclear activities last month during his official visit to Iran. He said Tehran was pursuing a peaceful nuclear program and he saw no smoking gun surrounding the program.
Erdogan also criticized the IAEA resolution against Iran and called it a very rushed decision. ‘I believe that was a very rushed process because certain steps could be taken in a more consultative fashion,’ Turkish Prime Minister said.
Turkey which has extensive cultural and economic ties with its historic neighbour Iran, has been critical of Western double standards over important issues that not only concern Iran but all other non-western countries. Ankara was a leader among the Islamic countries that strongly criticized Israeli offensive of Gaza last year. Erdogan, while attending a conference with Shimon Peres called Israeli army the ‘child killers’ and left the meeting in protest, which was televised live around the world.
Turkey imports nearly 20 percent of its natural gas requirements from Iran at this time and plans to increase its participation with Iranian and international energy companies to develop Iran’s massive energy resources in near future. Ankara meanwhile is playing a key role as a transit route for Iran, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan gas to European markets through the proposed Nabucco pipeline.
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