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U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said United Nations sanctions against Iran when combined with other efforts have “real potential” to deter the country from developing nuclear weapons.

“I think that it could add to the pressures on the regime” in combination with unilateral U.S. sanctions and efforts to improve the defenses of Persian Gulf allies, Gates said yesterday on “Fox News Sunday.”

Sanctions and other policies “have a reasonable chance of getting the Iranian regime finally to come to their senses and realize their security is probably more endangered by going forward than stopping” the nuclear program, Gates said.

UN sanctions adopted June 9 by the Security Council include restrictions on financial transactions with Iran, a tighter arms embargo and authority to seize cargo linked with nuclear or missile programs.