Obama, Cameron call for pause before imposing fresh sanctions on Iran

US President Obama says he will veto a move by the US Congress to impose new sanctions on Iran

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama on Friday urged Congress not to impose new sanctions on Iran over its disputed nuclear program, threatening to veto any such legislation that lands on his desk.

"Congress needs to show patience," Obama told a joint news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, adding that new sanctions would "jeopardise the possibility of... providing a diplomatic solution to one of the most difficult and long-lasting national security problems that we've faced in a very long time."

Cameron also spoke out against calls for further sanctions on Iran, saying negotiations needed "space" to succeed.

PM: President Obama and I believe more sanctions now on Iran would be counter-productive and would undermine valuable international unity.

— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) January 16, 2015

"We remain absolutely committed to ensuring that Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon," Cameron said.

"The best way to achieve that now is to create the space for negotiations to succeed. We should not impose further sanctions now."