'Decisive action' needed
2007-04-10 18:19
London - Negotiations in connection with Iran's nuclear programme have failed and world leaders must take stronger measures to prevent Tehran from manufacturing a nuclear weapon, said the former American ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday.
Speaking to BBC radio's Today programme, John Bolton said Iran has no intention of giving up on its nuclear ambitions despite repeated UN condemnation.
Bolton said: "The effort to negotiate Iran out of its nuclear weapons program has failed and is failing now and needs to be changed dramatically.
"What we need to do is decisively increase the pressure economically and politically on Iran, ultimately leading to regime change."
Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmedinajad announced a dramatic expansion in his country's uranium enrichment programme on Monday, saying Tehran had begun operating 3 000 centrifuges - nearly 10 times the previously known number - despite UN demands that it suspend all enrichment activities.
Iran 'will not be bullied'
The United States and its allies have long accused the Iranians of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon.
Tehran denies the allegations, saying its goal is to create a civilian nuclear energy programme.
Ahmedinajad has rejected UN efforts to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions, saying the country will not be bullied.
The United Nations imposed limited sanctions in December, and then strengthened them slightly last month.
Bolton said: "(Ahmedinajad's) announcement shows Iran has no intention whatsoever of complying with security council resolutions or pronouncements by European or American governments.
"The fact is we have followed a path of negotiation for three-and-a-half years.
"That simply has played into Iran's hands and given them the time to overcome difficulties in the uranium conversion process and now the uranium enrichment process."
Freezing Iranian assets
Bolton said he thought the United States should adopt a harder stance against the Iranians, but has been stymied by its more conciliatory European allies, who have tried without success to pressure the Iranians into co-operating with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
"What will it take for Europe to come to the conclusion that Iran is determined to ignore the security council, ignore the IAEA, ignore the buckets of carrots that Europe has offered up and take a strong stand against this threat of an emergent nuclear power in the Middle East?" Bolton said.
Sanctions against Iran include the banning of Iranian arms exports and the freezing of assets of 28 people and organisations involved in Iran's nuclear and missile programs.
Iran rejected the sanctions and announced a partial suspension of co-operation with the IAEA.
- AP