Turkish PM urges Obama not to reject Iran deal
Erdogan tells president Turkish-mediated deal 'presents important opportunity to solve issue through diplomatic means'
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged US President Barack Obama not to dismiss a nuclear fuel swap deal sealed with Iran and to give diplomacy a chance, his press office said Friday.
Erdogan's call came after Washington submitted a United Nations resolution calling for a new round of sanctions against Iran, describing the fuel swap deal as insufficient.
In a letter to Obama, Erdogan said the agreement didn't solve the issue of Iran's nuclear program, "but presented an important opportunity to solve the issue through diplomatic means," a brief statement said.
The deal - forged by Turkey and Brazil, both non-permanent members of the UN Security Council - commits Iran to sending about half of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey in return for nuclear fuel for a Tehran reactor.
In a telephone call with Erdogan on Tuesday, Obama acknowledged the deal, but said Washington would continue to press for UN sanctions, citing the international community's continuing concerns on Iran's nuclear program.
