Riyadh courted on Chinese oil concerns

DOHA, Qatar, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Washington could ask Saudi Arabia to allay Chinese concerns over oil supplies should Beijing back a Western push against Iran, U.S. officials said.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned an audience at the U.S.-Islamic World Forum in Qatar that Iran was "becoming a military dictatorship" because of the heavy influence of the elite Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Washington worries Iran's recent behavior and its decision to enrich uranium to 20 percent is a sign of intent to move toward a nuclear weapon. A nuclear bomb requires 90 percent enrichment, though 20 percent is considered a technological milestone.

Any international effort to sanction Iran requires the consent from the veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, including China. Clinton told the forum that China "gets a healthy percentage" of its oil from Iran and a "trade-off" was needed to bring Beijing on board.

"And I think that the Chinese are very thoughtful," she said. "They are looking at that closely."

The BBC reports that aides to Clinton said she would ask Riyadh to make up for the oil that China gets from Iran should sanctions move forward at the United Nations.

Jeffrey Feltman, acting assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs, said Washington expects Riyadh to "use their relationship" to help with the effort.