Clinton: China To Play Role In Iran Sanctions Push

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

Foreign ministers of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations are meeting in Canada for talks focusing on Iran's nuclear program.

Speaking at the two-day meeting in the Quebec town of Gatineau, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the world could not accept a nuclear-armed Iran and that China would be involved in considering new sanctions proposals.

According to Reuters, the G8 foreign ministers will call on the international community to take "appropriate and strong steps" to show its resolve over Iran's nuclear activities.

A draft of the final communique also said the G8 remained open to dialogue with Tehran.

Meanwhile, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he does not favor imposing fresh UN sanctions against Iran.

Erdogan said, "Turkey shares a 380-kilometer border with Iran and it is an important partner, especially in energy."

Erdogan was speaking after talks in Ankara with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who urged Turkey -- a nonpermanent member of the UN Security Council -- to vote with the United States and Europe on Iran.

Iran is already under three rounds of UN Security Council sanctions for failing to stop its uranium-enrichment program.

Three permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, France, and Britain -- are pushing for a fourth round of sanctions.

The other two permanent UN Security Council members -- Russia and even more so China -- are less supportive of the idea.