Blair: No plan to fight Iran
2005-01-26 21:38
London - Prime Minister Tony Blair said Wednesday that he knows of no plans by the United States to attack Iran, but said Tehran must face up to its obligations to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
US President George W Bush said last week that he preferred a diplomatic solution but said, "I will never take any option off the table."
Michael Meacher, a member of Blair's Labour Party, asked the prime minister for an "unequivocal and categorical assurance" that Britain would not take part in any attack on Iran.
"I know of no such contemplation by the United States of America," Blair said, referring to a statement by US Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday that Washington preferred a diplomatic solution. Cheney also said he rated Iran "at the top of the list" of potential global trouble spots.
Blair said that Cheney "went on to say, however - and I fully agree with this - that there is indeed a serious issue as to Iran and nuclear weapons and its obedience to the atomic energy authority. And what we are doing in Europe in concert with America and others is trying to make sure that Iran comes into compliance with its international obligations."
Blair added: "We must do everything we possibly can to send the right signal to Iran that they do indeed have to comply with those obligations."
- SAPA