By Gary Duffy
BBC News, Sao Paulo
**US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is expected to raise the issue of Brazil’s policy towards Iran as she holds talks in Brasilia.**Washington, which is pressing for further sanctions on Iran to curb its nuclear ambitions, is concerned at the strength of Brazil-Iran ties.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is due in Iran in May, returning last year’s visit by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
President Lula argues that isolating Iran’s leaders is counter-productive.
Mrs Clinton is visiting South America at a time when there is a sense in the region that President Barack Obama’s administration, distracted by so many other issues, has not lived up to expectations.
Brazil’s approach towards Iran is just one of a number of sensitive topics up for discussion which will highlight strains in the relationship with Washington.
President Ahmadinejad was warmly received here last November and President Lula is due to visit Tehran later this year.
Brazil takes the view that sanctions against Iran are ineffective.
President Lula has argued that Iran has the right to work towards a peaceful nuclear energy programme that fully respects international agreements.
He has warned that good things will not come out of Tehran if the country’s leadership feels it is cornered.
Growing strength
The US state department has said if Brazil uses its relationship with Iran to press the country to fulfil its international obligations then that would be an important step, but if it did not do that, Washington would be “disappointed”.
Commentators in some US newspapers have given a blunter assessment, with one suggesting Brazil’s growing strength in the world had “gone to President Lula’s head”.
Brazil is currently on the UN Security Council, so its views have an added importance as the United States tries to build a consensus on the issue of Iran.
Mrs Clinton would undoubtedly be happier if she left South America’s largest country with something that was at least approaching an agreed position.