US bid to enlist Turkey in confronting Tehran

Turkey voted against the US-backed sanctions against Iran in June, insisting that its neighbour's nuclear programme is peaceful, despite fears Tehran might be seeking to develop nuclear arms. Turkey has, however, stated that it will abide by the sanctions.

Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said yesterday in the Turkish capital that he did not plan to "question or rebut" Turkey over the vote and welcomed its stated intention to abide by those sanctions.

The UN approved a fourth round of sanctions against Iran in early June over accusations that Tehran is seeking to develop atomic weapons.

Iran denies its nuclear programme is military in nature and says it has a right to conduct uranium enrichment for peaceful purposes. Washington and other powers accuse Iran of seeking to build a nuclear weapon.

Mullen said that both countries agree that Iran should not achieve "a nuclear weapons capability", and need "to do all that we can to ensure that".

He arrived in Ankara last Friday to meet with his new Turkish counterpart, General Isik Kosaner, who took office on 27 August. He also met with Turkey's prime minister and defence minister. No statements were released after those meetings.

Mullen praised Turkey - Nato's sole Muslim member state - for its role in Afghanistan and said the US would welcome any additional help it can provide.

Turkey currently holds the rotating command of the international peacekeeping force guarding the Afghan capital, while Turkish instructors are training the Afghan army and police force.

In 2003, Turkey refused to allow US forces to use its territory to invade Iraq.