Iran Must Not Develop Nuclear Weapons, Says Blair

PA News: The international community will not accept Iran developing nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Tony Blair
warned today. At his monthly Downing Street press conference, Mr Blair stressed that dialogue with Tehran over its suspected weapons development efforts was not over.
Mr Blair insisted that he was not aware of any American plans to take military action against Iran. Press Association

By John Deane, Chief Political Correspondent

The international community will not accept Iran developing nuclear weapons, Prime Minister Tony Blair warned today.

At his monthly Downing Street press conference, Mr Blair stressed that dialogue with Tehran over its suspected weapons development efforts was not over.

Mr Blair insisted that he was not aware of any American plans to take military action against Iran.

But he warned that the international community was determined to ensure that the Iranians do not join the nuclear weapons club.

Mr Blair was asked what pressure the West could really bring to bear on the Iranians over their nuclear programme.

Mr Blair said: “Well, we can put proper pressure through the international body, which is the (International) Atomic Energy Authority.

“And the Iranians have been given certain measures they have to comply with, and they have got to comply with it, because the one thing we do not want is an Iran with nuclear weapons capability, for sure.”

The Prime Minister was asked whether he would be prepared to cooperate with the US if it decided at some future point to take military action against either Iran or Syria.

Mr Blair said: “I don’t know anyone who is talking about military action in Iran or Syria.

“But what we are insisting on, quite rightly, is that there is a proper obligation on the Iranians to comply with international law and regulations laid down by the appropriate body, the Atomic Energy Authority.

“Now I don’t think dialogue has been exhausted on this at all. But we do need the Iranians to understand that the international community does not find it acceptable that they develop nuclear weapons.”