WASHINGTON, April 20: US President George Bush said on Thursday he had discussed with Chinese President Hu Jintao the possibility of the United Nations passing a motion against Iran that could order sanctions or action going up to military action.

“One of the tactics that I have been talking to the president is the use of the United Nations Security Council chapter seven to send a common message to the Iranians that China and the United States and the EU-3 countries all are deeply concerned about the Iranian ambition,” Mr Bush told reporters at the White House.

Mr Hu did not mention the Iranian case in his comments after the summit.

The US administration is seeking international backing, particularly from the Security Council’s five permanent members, for potential sanctions against Iran if it does not give up its nuclear program.

The EU-3 groups Britain, France and Germany.

Chapter seven allows for action to be taken against a country ranging from economic sanctions to military action.

Mr Bush also urged his Chinese counterpart to use his ‘considerable Influence’ over North Korea and work with the United States in persuading Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons programme.

“We intend to deepen our cooperation in addressing threats to global security, including the nuclear ambitions of Iran, the genocide in Darfur, Sudan, the violence unleashed by terrorists and extremists, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,” Mr Bush said at the formal welcome for Mr Hu.

“I’ll continue to seek President Hu’s advice and cooperation and urge his nation to use its considerable influence with North Korea to make meaningful progress toward a Korean peninsula that is free of nuclear weapons,” Mr Bush said.

HU’S RESPONSE: While China has expressed opposition to United Nations sanctions against Iran over its nuclear programme, and Sudan over the strife in Darfur, Mr Hu said his country wanted to work with the United States.

“We are ready to continue to work with the US side and other parties concerned to peacefully resolve the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula and Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations,” Mr Hu said in his reply.

Stressing that China and the United States are countries of ‘significant influence in the world’, he said China wanted ‘to uphold the international non-proliferation regime and to safeguard global peace and stability’.

Mr Bush raised a similar theme. “The United States welcomes the emergence of a China that is peaceful and prosperous and that supports international institutions,” he said.

“As stakeholders in the international system, our two nations share many strategic interests. President Hu and I will discuss how to advance those interests and how China and the United States can cooperate responsibly with other nations to address common challenges.”—AFP