Obama says pressure must be maintained on Iran

Says he and Sarkozy agree on need to maintain "unprecedented pressure" on Tehran; White House: upcoming IAEA report important.

By REUTERS
Obama speech with flags in background 311 (R) (photo credit: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)
Obama speech with flags in background 311 (R)
(photo credit: REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)
CANNES - US President Barack Obama said he and French President Nicolas Sarkozy agreed during talks on Thursday on the need for pressure to be maintained on Iran over its nuclear program.
"We had the opportunity to talk about a range of security issues," Obama told reporters following talks with Sarkozy ahead of a G20 heads of state summit in the French resort of Cannes.
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"One in particular that I want to mention is the continuing threat posed by Iran's nuclear program. The IAEA is scheduled to release a report on Iran's nuclear program next week and President Sarkozy and I agree on the need to maintain the unprecedented pressure on Iran to meet its obligations."
Later on Thursday, a White House spokesperson indicated that next week's report from the IAEA nuclear watchdog will be an important point for the world to assess whether Iran is meeting its obligations.
On Wednesday, a US congressional committee approved tougher sanctions on Iran, hitting out at Tehran's central bank following an alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi ambassador to Washington.
The bipartisan legislation has good prospects for clearing the House of Representatives in the near future. In the Senate, lawmakers in both parties are working on similar legislation, increasing the likelihood that some version will become law.