Biden Urges Turkey To Impose New Sanctions On Iran

Turkish President Abdullah Gul (left) receives U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Ankara.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden, on a visit to Turkey, has urged Ankara to impose new sanctions on Iran to increase pressure on the Islamic Republic to halt its controversial nuclear activities.

Biden, in an interview with Turkey's "Hurriyet" newspaper published on December 2, said the United States continues to support a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran's nuclear program but "encourages its partners, including Turkey, to take steps to impose new sanctions on Iran" over its nuclear program.

Turkey is bound by UN sanctions against Iran over Tehran's nuclear program which Western nations fear is aimed at producing weapons, an accusation Iran denies.

The United States and the EU have already imposed additional sanctions.

compiled from agency reports