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Brazil calls for no new sanctions on Iran

Brazil says is working to avoid a fresh round of UN sanctions on Iran and says it could consider hosting an exchange of nuclear fuel for Tehran. A temporary member of the UN Security Council, Brazil has consistently defended Iran's nuclear programme.

Reuters
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"We are looking for a way to prevent sanctions against Iran, because we think that sanctions are ineffective," Brazilian Foregn Minister Celso Amorim said in a press conference during a two-day visit to Tehran on Tuesday.

Nine of the 15 members of the Security Council members have to vote in favour of sanctions for them to pass. Brazil has not indicated how it would vote, but Amorim was very critical.

"The only thing the sanctions achieve is that they hurt people, especially the lower class of people," he said.

Iran must guarantee its nuclear program has no military purpose, Amorin added.

"Iran should have peaceful nuclear activities, but the international community should be given guarantees that there will not be violation and diversion [of nuclear technology] towards military aims."

A UN deal would have Iran exchange low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel from Russia and France to power a research reactor in Tehran. Iran insists that the exchange take place on its territory, something rejected by world leaders.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who is due to visit Iran next month, told the the IRNA news agency Tuesday that Brazil could consider consider hosting the exchange.

When asked about the proposal, Amorin said it could be possible.

"As of now there is no proposal, but if we receive such a proposal, it could be examined," he said.

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