Brazil and the United States are at loggerheads about new UN sanctions against Iran. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is visiting Brazilian President Lula da Silva seeking his support. As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Brazil has a vote in the matter.

President Lula believes sanctions will only drive Iran into a corner, while Secretary Clinton argues they are the best way to get Tehran back to the negotiating table.

The United States wants to step up international pressure on Iran, which it believes is working to develop nuclear weapons. While emphasizing that Brazil is opposed to Iran becoming a nuclear power, President Lula says he has no objections if Iran is developing nuclear capacity for peaceful purposes, as it claims.

Hillary Clinton is on a tour of six Latin American countries. Her following destinations are Costa Rica and Guatemala.