Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said that U.S.-proposed sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program could trigger a war in the Middle East. The Brazilian leader told The Associated Press that sanctions could isolate Iran to such an extent that tensions could lead to conflict. "We don't want to repeat in Iran what happened in Iraq," Silva said.
Silva also said that Brazil would not support new sanctions against the Islamic Republic and that he would try during to convince Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to restart talks over Tehran’s nuclear program during a visit to Iran in May. "I have already told them [Iranian officials] that a war must be avoided at all costs," Silva said. "In whose interest is a war?"
