Region | Iran
Brown: Iran must talk to US or face tougher curbs
Iran must take up President Barack Obama's offer of new dialogue on its disputed nuclear programme or face tougher sanctions, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday.
- AP
- Published: 23:09 March 17, 2009
London: Iran must take up President Barack Obama's offer of new dialogue on its disputed nuclear programme or face tougher sanctions, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday.
Brown, speaking to a London conference, said Iran had become a "critical proliferation threat" because of its refusal to heed international concern over its uranium enrichment programme, according to excerpts of his speech released in advance.
While the US and others claim Iran is enriching uranium as part of a quest to develop nuclear weapons, Iran insists the programme is part of a peaceful civilian energy programme.
Brown said Iran should face automatic penalties for breaching the international rules that cover its nuclear programme - a move that would make the sanctions process quicker. Punishments currently have to be negotiated at the United Nations Security Council, where Russia and China often block tough action against Iran.
The threat of stronger punishment would complement Obama's call for dialogue, Brown's speech said. "I hope that Iran will make the right choice and take advantage of the international community's willingness to negotiate, including President Obama's offer of engagement, rather than face further sanctions and regional instability," the speech said.
The Obama Administration has repeatedly raised the prospect of diplomatic engagement with Iran, but the offer has met with a mixed response from the Islamic Republic.
Sanctions have also failed to slow its nuclear activities: US and Israeli officials believe the country had enough fissile material to produce an atomic bomb.
Your comments
We don't understand under what capacity Brown is dictating terms to another country what to do and what not to? And why are they not putting sanctions on Israel for having nuclear weapons.
The West should understand that injustice and unfaireness will not bring peace but war with Iran.
Muslim countries, including Gulf countries, having the equal right to aquire peaceful nuclear technology with other world countries.
Syed Qurban Hussain
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 18, 2009, 14:37
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