PM rules out meeting with Iran Ahmadinejad

The Australian

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard has condemned Iran over its threats against Israel, while also reiterating support for tough sanctions aimed curbing the country's nuclear ambitions.

The prime minister arrived in Bali on Wednesday afternoon ahead of a summit of world leaders aimed at promoting democracy.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will also attend the two-day summit, which starts on Thursday.

But Ms Gillard has ruled out meeting Mr Ahmadinejad to pass on her concerns, saying Australia's position on Iran was well known.

"Clearly I will not be meeting with the president of Iran," she told reporters in Bali.

"We, through our embassy and more generally, make clear our views about the conduct of Iran, particularly their conduct ... in relation to nuclear material.

"We've made very clear our attitude in relation to that conduct. We're engaged in sanctions, as is the world on Iran and we've also made very clear our disgust at the statements made threatening the people of Israel."

The comments come after Ms Gillard reinforced Australia's position that it supports "strong sanctions" against Iran during talks with French President Francois Hollande in Vientiane on Monday.

Ms Gillard told Mr Hollande that Australia had "consistently expressed its strong concerns" about Iran's nuclear program and its failure to abide by its Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and International Atomic Energy Agency obligations.