Brazil resists push for tougher Iran sanctions

Brazil has told the US and France that it will not agree with tougher sanctions against Iran as it seeks more trade with the Islamic Republic, the Brazilian envoy to the UN says.

“We are not considering sanctions a good idea now,” Ambassador Maria Viotti told Bloomberg on Wednesday.

“Negotiations should continue. If sanctions are pursued, this might block the negotiating track,” she said.

Viotti stressed that a negotiated settlement of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program is still possible.

Brazil, which began a two-year term on the 15-nation Security Council in January, is expected to join China, Lebanon and Turkey in opposing a sanctions vote.