Obama urges Iran not to wait for nuclear deal

Published on Friday 25 July 2008 21:33

BARACK Obama yesterday said Iran should not wait for the next US president to be elected before resolving its dispute with the West over its nuclear programme.

The Democratic hopeful was speaking during a joint press conference with Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, in Paris, on his week-long tour of the Middle East and Europe.

Mr Obama said Iran should accept the proposals made by Mr Sarkozy and other western leaders. He urged Iran not to wait for the next US president to push them "because the pressure, I think, is only going to build".

The US and other western nations accuse Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and demand that it freeze its uranium enrichment programme. Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.

Mr Obama said that he and Mr Sarkozy agreed that Iran posed "an extraordinarily grave situation". He said the world must send "a clear message to Iran to end its illicit nuclear programme".

"My expectation is we're going to present a clear choice to Iran: change your behaviour and you will be fully integrated into the international community with all its benefits," he said.

"Continue your illicit nuclear programme and the international community will ratchet up pressure with stronger and increased sanctions. And we should have no illusion that progress will come easily."

The two men also discussed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, climate change and other issues. Mr Obama was due to arrive in London last night for the final stop of his tour. On Thursday he was in Berlin, where he addressed 200,000 people.