Brazil's Lula suggests joint mediation with Turkey to solve Iranian nuke issue

During their meeting on the sidelines of a nuclear security summit early last week in Washington, Brazilian President Luiz Inacia Lula da Silva reportedly proposed to Prime Minister Erdogan that their countries engage in joint mediation efforts to solve the Iranian nuclear issue. "As non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, Brazil and Turkey share a common view and believe that diplomacy should be prioritized to resolve the international dispute over Iran's controversial nuclear program," Da Silva reportedly said, adding that the two countries could make important contributions in that respect. Da Silva is scheduled to visit Tehran next month to give the message that Iran has a right to peaceful nuclear energy but mustn't pursue nuclear weapons. He is also expected to urge the Iranian government to avoid harming efforts to reach a peaceful solution to the issue. In related news, speaking to British daily Financial Times about mounting US-led efforts to impose tougher sanction on Iran, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged that new sanctions be applied to Iran as soon as possible. On Turkey advocating a negotiations-based solution to the nuclear issue, Clinton said she was "respectful" of Turkey's opposition to tougher sanctions on Iran.