Obama says US, France unified partners against nuclear weapons in Iran

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Obama: US, France unified against Iranian nukes

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says the United States and France are unified in their efforts to prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Obama and French President Nicolas Sarkozy (sar-koh-ZEE’) met privately on Tuesday in the Oval Office and later planned dinner at the White House with their wives. After the afternoon meeting, Obama told reporters that France is one of the United States’ oldest allies, noting the two countries have fought together on battlefields from Yorktown and Afghanistan.

Obama says meeting global challenges such as Iran require global cooperation. Obama also says the pair discussed the financial regulatory overhaul and peace negotiations in the Middle East.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama won’t request that French President Nicolas Sarkozy send more troops to Afghanistan, at least not when they meet Tuesday at the White House to review the war effort.

“There’s no specific ‘ask’ on the table,” Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters during his daily press briefing.

Instead of troops, Obama will seek more French military or police trainers, according to two Western diplomats. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the presidential discussions are private.

French trainers have been among those killed in Afghanistan this year, and polls show most French voters don’t support the effort.

Last year Sarkozy resisted calls by Obama to add to the 3,750 French troops and trainers in Afghanistan. The U.S. is deploying 30,000 more troops to try to reverse gains made by the Taliban.

Whether or not they agree on troop levels in Afghanistan, Obama and Sarkozy are of a mind on wanting new sanctions against Iran for its nuclear activities, resuming Mideast peace talks, and better regulating the U.S. financial system.

Before the meeting with Obama, Sarkozy and French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde visited the Capitol for talks about climate change and other issues with Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. After the session with Kerry, Sarkozy said he would push for “very, very hard sanctions” against Iran.

The French leader also met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

In between affairs of state Sarkozy and his wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, lunched at Ben’s Chili Bowl, a no-frills urban diner that has become a Washington institution.

The Sarkozys were scheduled to join Obama and his wife, Michelle, for a private dinner in the White House. The French presidential palace called the diner a first-of-its-kind invite and a sign of esteem for America’s oldest ally.

Associated Press writer Philip Elliott contributed to this report.