BRASILIA – Brazil rebuffed a U.S. appeal for new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, vowing during a visit from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton not to “bow down” to gathering international pressure.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva pre-empted Clinton even before she could make the case for new United Nations Security Council penalties. Silva is an outspoken opponent of sanctions, and his country currently sits on the Security Council, which will be asked to approve its toughest-ever penalties on Iran later this year, The Associated Press reported.
“It is not prudent to push Iran against a wall,” Silva told reporters hours before meeting with Clinton. “The prudent thing is to establish negotiations.”
The Obama administration took office last year pledging to reach out to Iran.
“We will not simply bow down to an evolving consensus if we do not agree,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said. “We have to think by ourselves and with our values and principles.”
Silva is scheduled to visit Tehran on May 15, and U.S. officials who participated in Clinton's meetings on Wednesday suggested they would like to see the Security Council vote on sanctions before then, AP reported.
Silva, who hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Brazil last year, said he would have a “frank” conversation with Ahmadinejad about Iran's nuclear program.
“I want for Iran the same thing I want for Brazil: to use the development of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes,” he said. “If Iran agrees with that, Iran will have the support of Brazil.”
Brazil to keep trade ties
Brazil will maintain trade ties with Iran despite mounting pressure on the Islamic republic from Western countries to give up its nuclear program, an official said.
Foreign Minister Amorim told reporters Thursday that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has already made clear Brazil's position at a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently, IANS reported.
Amorim, who attended the meeting at the provisional presidential headquarters, said Lula had told Clinton that he would travel to Iran and the Middle East next week.
After that trip, Lula will talk to world leaders to find a diplomatic solution to Iran's nuclear issue, Prensa Latina reported, citing the minister.
Photo: Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim (Getty Images)