Sarkozy Urges China to Back Iran Sanctions

BEIJING — President Nicolas Sarkozy of France told President Hu Jintao of China that nations would have to impose new sanctions on Iran if it refuses to curb its nuclear program, official Chinese news organizations reported on Thursday.

Mr. Sarkozy’s efforts increased the pressure from a vigorous push by President Obama to get China and Russia to support a new round of sanctions.

“China hopes to use dialogue,” Mr. Sarkozy told Mr. Hu Wednesday during a visit to Beijing, according to China Daily, an official English-language newspaper. “France completely understands China, and we are willing to discuss this problem together at an appropriate time.”

Mr. Sarkozy added, “If dialogue does not work, then we can only use sanctions.”

France has joined with the United States and Britain in pushing for a new package of economic sanctions from the United Nations. Those countries accuse Iran of using its nuclear program to try to develop weapons. Iran has said it is interested in pursuing nuclear power, not arms.

Mr. Sarkozy’s trip to Beijing comes at a critical juncture in the campaign Mr. Obama is leading to win support for new sanctions. Earlier this month, Mr. Hu told Mr. Obama in Washington that China would take part in negotiations over a sanctions package, but made no specific commitments to support the kind of sanctions that the United States favors.

China, which imports nearly 12 percent of its oil from Iran, has long said that dialogue is the proper way to deal with that country in part because it is concerned that Iran would cut off oil shipments to China if Beijing were to support sanctions.

Iran’s nuclear ambitions were a priority in the talks between Mr. Sarkozy and Mr. Hu, but Mr. Hu did not comment publicly on the issue, China Daily reported.