US TURNS SCREW ON ANKARA OVER SANCTIONS
By Daniel Dombey In Washington

Financial Times
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Feb 24 2010
UK

The US is stepping up pressure on Turkey to back new sanctions against
Iran, highlighting the difficulties Washington faces in forging a
consensus on Tehran’s nuclear programme.

A report from the International Atomic Energy Agency expressed fears
last week that Tehran could be working on a nuclear warhead. But
Turkey remains unconvinced about imposing more sanctions and its
relations with the US are strained.

EDITOR’S CHOICE Iran increases uranium enrichment – Feb-09.US foreign
policy has not made breakthroughs – Feb-07.Iran to start work on 20%
nuclear fuel – Feb-08.US says it cannot force Iran to shun bomb –
Feb-03.Between the bomb and the barricades – Feb-05.Siemens to avoid
seeking more business in Iran – Jan-27..Ankara’s reluctance is all
the more significant as the country is presently on the UN Security
Council and is a Nato member.

"Turkey has as much reason to be concerned about the prospect of a
nuclear Iran as anybody," James Steinberg, US deputy secretary of
state, told the Financial Times.

Asked about statements from Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish prime
minister, calling Iran a "friend", Mr Steinberg added: "We don’t need
them to label Iran. We need them to work with us to make sure that
Iran doesn’t become nuclear weapons-capable." The two allies needed to
"find a common tactical approach" to try to achieve that objective.

Relations between the US and Turkey are being tested on other fronts.

Last week senior diplomats from each country had an angry exchange
outside a meeting between Hillary Clinton, US secretary of state,
and Mr Erdogan. Joseph LeBaron, US ambassador to Qatar, wanted to
interrupt so Mrs Clinton could meet the Emir of Qatar on time.

According to the state department, Turkish diplomats physically
restrained him from doing so.

A congressional panel is to vote next month on whether to label the
massacre of Armenians during the Ottoman Empire as a "genocide".

Turkey has warned the resolution, which is backed by 138 of the 435
members of the House of Representatives, would hurt relations with
the US.

Mr Steinberg dismissed concerns that a military strike on Iran would
be likely after Tehran’s decision a week ago to shift almost all of
its stockpile of low-enriched uranium to a location where it could
be brought closer to weapons grade material.

"Nobody is looking for a military solution," he said. "I mean nobody."