Top Brazilian leaders are rejecting an appeal from the United States to
back new sanctions against Iran and its nuclear program.
Brazilian
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said Wednesday that Brazil will not, in
his words, “bow down” to international pressure.
Amorim spoke
during a news conference with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,
who warned that Iran will not negotiate in “good faith” without new
sanctions.
Clinton also met with Brazilian President Luiz Inacio
Lula da Silva. Prior to their meeting, the Brazilian leader warned
against “pushing” Iran into a corner when there is still a chance for
negotiations to work.
European Union and U.S. officials gathering
at an International Atomic Energy Agency board meeting in Vienna
Wednesday pledged to pursue additional sanctions against Iran.
Western
nations suspect Iran of enriching uranium to make nuclear weapons.
Iran argues it is only trying to produce fuel for a research reactor.
But
U.S. envoy to the IAEA Glyn Davies said Iran has been playing a “cat
and mouse” game with the U.N. body.
Brazil is a voting member of
the 15-nation U.N. Security Council, but does not have the veto power
of the Council’s five permanent members – the United States, Britain,
France, Russia and China.
