Italy, U.S. call for increased global pressure on Iran

by Silvia Marchetti

ROME, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Italy and the United States on Sunday vowed to cooperate in raising international pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear enrichment program.

But the defense ministers of Italy and the United States brushed aside the possibility of a military intervention in Iran.

"It is to avoid such risk that the international community must cooperate in employing reasonable instruments so as to never reach the decision of a military intervention," Italian Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa told a press conference after talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

"We all must work together for a common goal," he added.

A military option had not even been discussed during their bilateral meeting, La Russa said, adding that the two countries shared a common strategy and agreed the best strategy to adopt toward Iran was diplomatic and commercial force.

"We must use all possible means to stop Iran's spiraling aggressiveness which could put in danger global equilibrium," said the Italian minister.

Gates told the press conference that the international community's role, unity and support were essential in dealing with the Iran issue and he called for a major involvement.

"If the global community has a common position, we are still in time because pressures and sanctions could be effective in discouraging the Iranian nuclear plan," he said.

"All of us can do much more in preventing Iran from producing nuclear arms," Gates said, adding that such pressures were to be made on the Iranian government and not on the people "who have already been deeply affected."

On Sunday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered his country's atomic agency to start enriching uranium to a purity of 20 percent, but said Iran was still ready for a exchange of nuclear fuel with world powers.

La Russa expressed his regret at Iran's response so far to the international appeals to halt its enrichment program.

The international community has proposed that Iran swap its low enriched uranium for nuclear fuel with either France or Russia, but that it complete the exchange of all its 1,200 kilograms of uranium in one go.

The West has accused Iran of using its nuclear program to develop a nuclear weapon, a charge adamantly denied by Iran, which insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.

The Italian and U.S. defense ministers also discussed such issues as the need to enhance relations with Russia, their cooperation in the military mission in Afghanistan and relief efforts in quake-hit Haiti.

The Italian government decided in December last year to increase the number of the country's troops in Afghanistan by sending in an additional 1,000 soldiers this year.

Gates said Italy had done "more than any other ally in supporting U.S. President Barack Obama's new strategy for Afghanistan."