Davutoglu: As a neighboring country, Turkey has strong concerns about sanctions on Iran

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday met with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to discuss the Iranian nuclear issue, their second meeting this week following talks on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington. The US has recently stepped up efforts to impose tougher sanction on Iran for its controversial nuclear program, and Washington has sought Turkish support for this. But Ankara remains skeptical that tougher sanctions will yield a positive outcome, and is urging a diplomatic solution to the issue. Neither military action nor tougher sanctions, both of which would have a negative impact on Turkey, is the right way to solve the Iranian issue, Davutoglu yesterday told a conference hosted by US think-tank the Council on Foreign relations in Washington, stressing diplomacy as the way out. Stating that Iran is Turkey's second-biggest natural gas supplier and its only gateway to Central Asia, Davutoglu said that an earlier proposal for Iran to send its low-enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment could be revived. In related news, State Department spokesman Philip Crowley yesterday said Turkey is being helpful on the Iranian nuclear issue. He said Turkey and the US have a shared objective, and that no one wants to see Iran emerge as a nuclear state in the Middle East. Stating that Washington understands Ankara's position on the issue well, he said, "Whatever happens involving Iran, Turkey, which borders Iran, will be among the first countries to feel the impact. We respect that. That's why Turkey has been deeply engaged in this process. We have an understanding with Turkey as to what needs to happen from here." Stating that the US disagrees with setting aside tougher sanctions in favor of diplomatic efforts, Crowley added, "Turkey indicated that it will continue to find a way to engage Iran and see if can convince Iran to meet its international obligations under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). And we have made clear that we are consulting with Turkey and working within the Security Council on an appropriate UN Security Council resolution that demonstrates that there is a consequence for Iran's failure to meet its obligations or to respond meaningfully to the offer that was put on the table last September."