Barack Obama defended his sanctions against Iran claiming they have 'enormous bite' but wanted to work with Russia and China to find more ways of halting the country's nuclear program.
The President was speaking at a press conference after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Hawaii yesterday.
Earlier Obama has sought support from Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev and China's Hu Jintao but both men were largely silent on the issue of Iran.However Obama expressed confidence that both Russia and China understand the threat a nuclear-armed Iran would pose.
Obama said: 'We will be consulting with them carefully over the next several weeks to look at what other options we have available to us.'
At the summit, Obama met with Medvedev and Hu to discuss a new report from the UN watchdog agency that included evidence Iran is working on research and design efforts to develop a nuclear bomb.
Sitting beside Medvedev at the conference on Saturday, Obama said the two 'reaffirmed our intention to work to shape a common response' on Iran.
Shortly after, Obama joined Hu, saying that he and the Chinese leader want to ensure that Iran abides by 'international rules and norms'.
Medvedev was largely silent on Iran during Obama's remarks, merely acknowledging that the subject was discussed. Hu did not mention Iran at all.
White House aides insisted later that Russia and China remain unified with the U.S. and other allies in preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and that Obama, Hu and Medvedev had agreed to work on the next steps.
Deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said the new allegations about Iran's programs demand an international response.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061166/Iran-nuclear-bomb-threat-Russia-China-refuse-Obama.html#ixzz1dgyKoGRT
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