New York - US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed Wednesday to keep up the pressure on Iran to end its nuclear activities and left open the possibility of further sanctions. The two leaders, meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, said Iran must be given a clear choice of coming clean on its nuclear programme or face greater international isolation.
"If Iran does not respond to serious negotiations and resolve this issue in a way that assures the international community that it's meeting its commitments, and is not developing nuclear weapons, then we will have to take additional actions," Obama said.
"Sanctions, serious additional sanctions, remain a possibility," he said.
Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, Britain and France - plus Germany were to hold a meeting Wednesday on the Iranian situation. The six powers will meet with Iranian officials on October 1.
Russia has been more reluctant to step up pressure on Iran. But Medvedev left the door open, saying the international community had to do its utmost to convince Iran to make the "right decision" and abandon any ambitions for nuclear weapons.
"Sanctions rarely lead to productive results. But in some cases sanctions are inevitable," Medvedev said.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was set to address the UN General Assembly later Wednesday evening. He has said he considers the nuclear matter closed.
Obama and Medvedev also said they were making progress toward an agreement that would reduce the two countries nuclear weapons stockpiles. They said they were confident a new START treaty was still on track to be finished by the end of the year.
