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Obama makes Iran remarks in France before UK talks

25/07/2008

Barack Obama will arrive in Britain later today after urging Iran to freeze its nuclear programme during talks with French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

The presumptive Democratic nominee is wrapping up his diplomatic tour of the Middle East and Europe with France and Britain after visits to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel and Germany.

Mr Obama, who takes on Republican rival John McCain for the United States presidency in November, spent today in Paris where he held talks with Mr Sarkozy and urged Iran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme.

Obama said that he and Mr Sarkozy agreed that Iran poses "an extraordinarily grave situation."

Speaking at a news conference, he said the world must send "a clear message to Iran to end its illicit nuclear program" and said pressure on Iran is "only going to build".

"My expectation is that we're going to present a clear choice to Iran: change your behavior and you will be fully integrated into the international community with all the benefits that go with that," the Illinois senator added.

"Continue your illicit nuclear program and the international community as a whole will ratchet up pressure with stronger and increased sanctions. And we should have no illusion that progress will come easily."

When asked by a French reporter about the ways in which he would differ from US president George Bush in terms of foreign policy, Mr Obama stressed that he is only a senator.

"I am a candidate for president," he explained.

"But there's a wonderful tradition in the United States, that's not always observed, but I think is a good one. Which is that you don't spend time criticising a sitting president when you're overseas."

"What I can say affirmatively is that an effective US foreign policy will be based on our ability not only to project power but also to listen and to build consensus," Mr Obama added.

He is to fly to Britain where he will wrap up his trip with a meeting with Mr Brown in Downing Street. Mr Obama will also meet former prime minister Tony Blair and Conservative leader David Cameron.

According to the Associated Press news agency, Federal Election Commission reports suggest Mr Obama has received around ten times more funds from Europe-based US donors than Mr McCain.

The Arizona senator went on his own diplomatic trip in March, soon after wrapping up the Republican nomination.