[08/February/2010]

PARIS, Feb. 8 (Saba) -- French and U.S. defense ministers jointly announced Monday in Paris that their two countries would work together for new sanctions against Iran over the nuclear issue, according to Xinhua.

France's position over Iran's nuclear enrichment program was totally converged with that of the United States, French Defense Minister Herve Morin said next to his visiting U.S. counterpart, Robert Gates, after a meeting between the two.

"It'll be necessary, unfortunately, to engage an international dialogue which will lead to new sanctions if Iran doesn't halt its nuclear programmes," Morin added.

Gates said that the United States fully agreed that "action by the international community is the next step."

"The only path that is left to us at this point ... is that pressure track, it will require all of the international community to work together," he said.

The U.S. defense secretary insisted sanctions are the only way to stop Iran moving closer to military nuclear access.

France holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council in February. Analysts say the council could discuss new sanctions on Iran this month.

Gates is expected to meet with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in the afternoon and a meeting with Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner is also on his agenda.

Saba