By IANS,
Washington : Brazil has called for diplomacy rather than sanctions to resolve the row over Iran’s nuclear programme, Iranian state-run Press TV reported Tuesday.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit here Monday, Brazilian Defence Minister Nelson Jobim said past sanctions never hindered Iran’s nuclear activities.
The US and some allies want sanctions against Iran to force it to halt its uranium enrichment activities. But China, Russia and some members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) including Brazil insist that diplomacy must be given a chance.
Jobim also urged the international community to give Tehran “guarantees that it will not be attacked” by the US and Israel.
US President Barack Obama announced a new nuclear strategy last week, including a pledge not to use nuclear weapons against countries that do not possess them.
Iran and North Korea were pointedly excluded from that pledge because Washington accuses them of not cooperating with the international community on non-proliferation standards.