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Obama says talks under way on Iran sanctions

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-11-19 14:21

SEOUL, South Korea: President Barack Obama said Thursday the United States has begun talking with allies about fresh punishment against Iran for defying efforts to halt its nuclear weapons pursuits.

US President Barack Obama gestures during a joint press conference with and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak at the Blue House in Seoul, South Korea. Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. [Agencies]

Obama's tough talk came as Iran indicated it would not ship its low-enriched uranium to Russia for processing, the centerpiece of deal aimed at a peaceful resolution to Iran's contested nuclear program.

"They have been unable to get to 'yes', and so as a consequence, we have begun discussions with our international partners about the importance of having consequences," Obama said in a brief news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Obama did not get more specific about the nature of any new sanctions, which would require commitments of international support that are hardly clear yet.

Related readings:  Obama meets with S. Korean president for summit  Nuclear issue tops Obama's agenda in ROK

Standing side by side, Obama and Lee signaled impatience with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and declared fresh, united steps in getting that nation to give up its own nuclear weapons.

Lee said Obama had rallied behind his idea for a one-time "grand bargain" with the DPRK of aid and concessions in exchange for denuclearization, rather than the stalled step-by-step process. And Obama said his envoy would travel to North nation early next month for the first bilateral talks with the DPRK government since he took office.

The South Korea stop was the final dash of diplomacy for Obama on a weeklong Asia trip, and although he and Lee trumpeted the strength of their nations' alliance, a stalled trade deal continues to vex them.

The ambitious South Korean-US pact has bogged down over US lawmakers' worries it could hurt the struggling American auto industry. Obama offered public assurances that he was committed to getting the deal and that teams from both countries were working on the troubling issues.

Lee prodded, too, saying there are misperceptions in the US that such a deal would only benefit Korea and hurt American consumers.

Obama seemed to advance the prospect of sanctions against Iran but held out the option of diplomacy.

He said Iran must get a "clear message" and described a "package of potential steps that we could take that will indicate our seriousness to Iran.

"I continue to hold out the prospect that they may decide to walk through this door," Obama said.