Region | Iran
New UK minister firm on N-issue
David Miliband, Britain's Foreign Secretary, has warned Iran that the new UK government will maintain a tough stance on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, insisting that the Iranian regime "doesn't have the right to set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East".
- By James Blitz, Daniel Dombey and Philip Stephens, Financial Times
- Published: 00:15 July 10, 2007
- Image Credit: Reuters/ISIS, DigitalGlobe
- A September 16, 2002 satellite image shows facilities in Natanz. A new satellite photo has revealed construction of tunnels into the mountains at another controversial facility.
London: David Miliband, Britain's Foreign Secretary, has warned Iran that the new UK government will maintain a tough stance on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, insisting that the Iranian regime "doesn't have the right to set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East".
In his first interview since becoming foreign secretary, Miliband told the Financial Times that Iran "has every right to be a secure rich country" - and that the west is making a "very clear offer" to the regime that would allow it to develop the civil nuclear power it needs.
But in the first sign that Gordon Brown's government would not soften the UK's policy on Iran, Miliband said the Iranian regime "doesn't have the right to undermine the stability of its neighbours" - and that the UK would press ahead with a third United Nations sanctions resolution, if necessary.
Although Jack Straw, one of Miliband's predecessors, said two years ago that military action against Iran was "inconceivable", Miliband repeatedly refused to repeat this statement in the interview.
His central message was that the British government would "not retreat from the world" after Tony Blair's departure.
Meanwhile, the deputy head of the UN atomic watchdog visits Iran tomorrow as the West turns up the pressure on Tehran to suspend its nuclear drive or face more sanctions.
Olli Heinonen, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) deputy director general for safeguards, will seek to shape a plan to resolve "outstanding issues" over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Heinonen is making a two-day visit at the invitation of Iran's national security chief and top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani, who met EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana last month over the standoff.
Ahead of Heinonen's visit, IAEA chief Mohammad Al Baradei has said "drawing up a plan of action" should take 60 days.
Implementation would then begin on resolving questions about Iranian nuclear activities that could have military applications.
IAEA wants clarification over the origin of highly enriched uranium traced on some equipment, the status of a more advanced centrifuge machine called P2 used for enrichment and documentation concerning uranium metal and its casting into hemispheres.
- With additional inputs from agencies
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