G8 leaders warn Iran of sanctions

HEILIGENDAMM, Germany, June 8 (UPI) -- The Group of Eight leaders condemned Iran for failing to comply with United Nations resolutions and warned the Islamic Republic of further sanctions.

"We deplore the fact that Iran has so far failed to meet its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747 and will support adopting further measures, should Iran refuse to comply with its obligations," leaders said in a statement issued on the final day of the G8 summit. "We remain united in our commitment to resolve the proliferation concerns posed by Iran's nuclear program."

G8 leaders added they were committed to solve the conflict with the Iranian regime using diplomacy and urged Iran to "suspend all its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and allow negotiations to begin."

The nuclear standoff between Iran and the West has been going on for years. The Islamic Republic insists its nuclear program is meant to produce electricity so Tehran can sell more of its natural gas currently used in power stations. The West, however, believes Iran is seeking nuclear weapons.

Chancellor Angela Merkel Friday at the end of the summit said there will likely and "sadly" be "further sanctions." Merkel added the repeated threats against Israel by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad were "absolutely unacceptable."