Blair says Iran must help

2005-02-08 14:41

London - British Prime Minister Tony Blair called Iran a state sponsor of terrorism on Tuesday, and urged the Islamic republic to meet European Union demands to renounce its suspected pursuit of nuclear weapons.

"It certainly does sponsor terrorism. There's no doubt about that at all," Blair told a parliamentary committee, agreeing with United States President George W Bush's view of Iran as a top sponsor of terrorism.

"I hope very much that if we can make progress in the Middle East, that Iran realises that it's got an obligation to help that, not hinder it," he said, referring to Iran's support for Palestinian militant groups.

Blair said it was a "good sign" that the United States and Europe were "working together" to convince Iran to abandon its feared pursuit of nuclear weapons.

It was also a "good sign" that France and Germany - which opposed the US and British invasion of Iraq - were, together with Britain, striving to reach a diplomatic solution with Tehran.

"Iran has now been given a set of obligation that it's got to fulfil," he added. "I hope they fulfil it."

Blair told the British parliament's liaison committee as Iranian and EU diplomats met in Geneva to discuss Iran's nuclear programme.

The Europeans want Iran to totally dismantle its uranium enrichment programme to ensure that it cannot make weapons-grade material.

Iran counters that it has the right, under international treaties, to work on the nuclear fuel cycle.

For the time being, Iran has suspended all uranium enrichment-related activities to fulfil its part of a deal clinched in November with the Europeans, in hopes of getting trade, security and technology concessions.

- AFP