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‘Brazil doesn’t recognise unilateral sanctions on Iran’

TEHRAN: Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim has said that his country does not approve of the imposition of unilateral sanctions on Iran by the United States and the European Union. “Brazil does not recognize unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran, whether by the United States or the European Union,” Amorim told the ISNA news agency in an interview published on Sunday. Brazil, as the largest country in South America, “does not accept any pressure in its relations with other countries, especially Iran,” he added. Under pressure from the US and its allies, the UN Security Council has so far adopted four sanctions resolutions against Iran. “It is possible that certain Brazilian companies are affected by these sanctions, but we, as the government of Brazil, will continue our normal relations with Iran and continue our efforts, in line with negotiations to find a solution to Iran’s nuclear issue,” the Brazilian foreign minister stated. Amorim said that the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program should be resolved at the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency, adding, “The Iranian government should fully cooperate with the agency because it is the best way to avoid sanctions.” He went on to say that it would only be possible to settle the differences between Iran and the IAEA by holding talks with “goodwill”. The Brazilian foreign minister said economic sanctions are not an acceptable way to resolve the nuclear standoff between Iran and the West. “Brazil is forced to follow the decisions of the Security Council and respect it, but I think that this is not the best option to resolve Iran’s nuclear issue. Our position is that the issue should be pursued through the agency and Iran should also cooperate with the agency.” Amorim was in Iran last week and held talks with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki, and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili. mna

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