Sarkozy: "Everyone should thank Turkey for brokering Iran nuclear swap deal"

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and French President Nicolas Sarkozy yesterday had a phone conversation during which they discussed a recent nuclear swap deal brokered by Turkey and Brazil with Iran. Erdogan reportedly conveyed Turkey’s expectation from France, a permanent member of UN Security Council and one of the countries in the Vienna Group which also includes Russia, France and the IAEA, to extend support to the implementation of the deal under which Iran would send 1,200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey within one month, awaiting the delivery of 120 kilograms of uranium enriched by Russia and France up to 20 percent in 11 months in return. Erdogan said that Iran initiated the process by formally informing International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the deal today. He noted that the response of Vienna Group was very important on that stage. For his part, Sarkozy called the deal a very positive step, saying that the international community should thank Turkey and Brazil for brokering such a deal. Accepting to store Iran’s uranium in Turkish soil is a great responsibility, Sarkozy reportedly told Erdogan, however, adding concerns still remained over the deal. Urging Iran to halt its uranium enrichment activities, including production of 20 percent enriched uranium, Sarkozy said. Expressing appreciation for Turkey’s efforts regarding the Iranian nuclear issue, Sarkozy also asked Erdogan to stay in touch, and added that dialogue should be given more time. In related news, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Turkey’s efforts to find a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue are appreciated, and thanked Premier Erdogan, who also held phone conversations with leaders of Saudi Arabia and Jordan yesterday in a bid to rally support for the deal. In related news, speaking to reporters en route to Kazakhstan for an official visit over the weekend, President Abdullah Gul said the US reaction to Iran’s nuclear fuel swap deal sealed in Tehran in early last week was related to domestic politics. The president said the swap deal was a “requirement” of the EU, the Vienna Group (the US, Russia, France and the International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA]), the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the US, China, Russia, France and Britain plus Germany), and the international community. “Their reaction, as I see it, is related to domestic politics,” Gul stressed. Despite different views on Iran, Gul said the US is Turkey’s ally and that they are very aware of the cost of the Iraq war to Turkey, adding that it is in Turkey’s national interest to solve Iran’s nuclear dispute through diplomacy. Gul also ruled out claims that Turkey wants to show itself off in the international arena by taking on a role in the nuclear crisis. Saying that US President Obama is following a policy of “engagement,” repudiating his predecessor George W. Bush’s “You are either with us or against us” rhetoric, Gul said Obama should embrace his policies, implying that he needs to endorse the nuclear deal agreed with Iran under Brazilian and Turkish mediation.