Turkey insists on diplomatic solution to Iran after sanctions vote

Ankara on Wednesday continued to insist that a diplomatic solution to the row over Iran's nuclear programme could be found, even after the UN Security Council voted to impose further sanctions on the country, DPA reported.

Turkey was one of only two countries, along with Brazil, on the 15-member UN Security Council to vote against the fresh sanctions.

"Turkey is convinced that diplomacy remains an option in solving the problem," the Turkish news agency Anadolu quoted an official from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office as saying.

"Turkey will continue to start initiatives to this end," the official added.

Earlier Wednesday, 12 out of the council's 15 members voted for imposing further sanctions on Iran. Brazil and Turkey voted against, while Lebanon abstained.

The West accuses Iran of having a secret nuclear weapons programme.