Global General

Russia receptive on Iran sanctions - France's Sarkozy

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-03-02 03:40

PARIS - Russia will back new sanctions against Iran so long as they don't create a humanitarian crisis, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said on Monday after talks with his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev.

France is pushing hard for tough new sanctions against Iran to punish Tehran for its nuclear programme, but is struggling to build consensus in the United Nations' Security Council for such a move.

Sarkozy told reporters that Medvedev had "told me of his receptiveness to the question of sanctions so long as they don't create humanitarian dramas".

Sarkozy also said that France had entered into exclusive talks to sell Russia four Mistral-class helicopter carriers -- a proposed deal that has alarmed Washington and some of NATO's east European allies.