AFP, Abu Dhabi, March 11, 2010  – Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have signalled a ’willingness’ to press China to support tough new sanctions on Iran, US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said here Thursday.
’I have the sense that there’s a willingness’ by the Saudis and UAE leaders to use their leverage as oil-rich states to persuade China to endorse fresh sanctions on Tehran over its nuclear programme, Gates told in reporters in Abu Dhabi after two days talks in the Gulf.
The two countries were also open to lobbying Moscow on the issue ’although there’s less need with respect to Russia,’ he said, as it was more supportive of sanctions..