Blair blasts Iran’s sponsorship of international terrorism

Iran Focus: London, Apr. 24 – British Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran on Monday of sponsoring terrorism and said that to deal with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions the international community must send Tehran a “signal of strength”. Iran Focus

London, Apr. 24 – British Prime Minister Tony Blair accused Iran on Monday of sponsoring terrorism and said that to deal with Tehran’s nuclear ambitions the international community must send Tehran a “signal of strength”.

“Iran is supporting terrorism in the region to the detriment of democratic governments”, Blair told reporters during his monthly press conference.

He described comments by hard-line Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as “unjustifiable”.

Asked by a journalist whether the British Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary Jack Straw were divided over Iran policy, Blair denied any such split in the government.

“[Iran”> is in breach of its nuclear obligations and people want it to comply. … It is not very sensible at this moment in time to send a signal of weakness; we want to send a signal of strength”, Blair said, adding, “Nobody is talking about military invasion; people do however want to send a very strong signal to Iran”.

British newspapers have been reporting a developing rift between Blair and Straw over how to deal with Tehran’s challenge to the West.

Last week, the British daily Independent wrote that differences had opened up between Blair and the Foreign Secretary on whether the threat of military strikes on Iran should be kept as an option or completely ruled out.