Concerns that Tehran is not exclusively pursuing peaceful nuclear energy have “some foundation,” Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said in an interview with the UOL news website and the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper.
But he also said Brazil felt dialogue with Iran was the right way to try to reduce tensions. He did not embrace the EU and US view that the Islamic Republic is proposing talks as a way to stall while it works to master nuclear technology.
“There are fears with some foundation that Iran’s nuclear energy development program might not be exclusively for peaceful ends. I believe it is necessary for Iran to show that it is, in fact, only for peaceful ends,” Patriota said.
Brazil insisted that trust had to be built up, “and the creation of trust comes from trying dialogue,” he said.
“We are favorable to a relationship with Iran to contribute to reducing the tensions.” That suggested Brazil would continue to approach Iran and try to act as a mediator between it and the major powers.
The comments, however, marked a major shift in tone from the one struck under Brazil’s previous government headed by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who proclaimed himself a “friend” of President Ahmadi-nejad and who defended Tehran’s nuclear program.
When current President Dilma Rousseff, who had been Lula’s chief if staff, took office in January, she modified Brazil’s friendship with Iran by emphasizing human rights concerns and criticizing Iran’s treatment of dissidents and women.
Now Patriota has further eroded the previous policy by questioning Iran’s nuclear program.