Blair warned over Iran military threat
The UK must use its position as broker between America and Europe to stop any military action against Iran, a new report by academics, charities and unions has warned.
It calls on Tony Blair to use his influence to prevent the US using force to stop Iran’s nuclear enrichment process, saying such action could have “unthinkable” consequences.
Entitled Time to Talk: The Case for Diplomatic Solutions on Iran, the report says Britain must try to negotiate face-to-face talks between Tehran and Washington to help calm escalating tensions between the two countries.
The report is backed by Richard Dalton, the former UK ambassador to Tehran, as well as the Foreign Policy Centre, Oxfam and several British trade unions.
President George Bush has singled out Iran as the main culprit for insurgency attacks in Iraq, and his words have prompted speculation that he is gearing up for some kind of attack on Iranian nuclear facilities.
However, today’s report warns such an attack would have disastrous consequences, primarily in strengthening Iran’s resolve to build nuclear weapons. At the moment, the government insists it is only interested in nuclear power.
It also raises the prospect of increased attacks on British troops in southern Iraq, and says it could fuel anti-Western sentiment and increase the risk of a terrorist attack in the UK. In addition, the report warns the effect on global oil prices would be severe.
“The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable, they are unthinkable,” said former Labour minister Stephen Twigg, director of the Foreign Policy Centre.
“Even according to the worst estimates, Iran is still years away from having a nuclear weapon. There is still time to talk and the prime minister must make sure our allies use it.”
The report comes after three former US military leaders yesterday warned attacking Iran would have “would have disastrous consequences for security in the region, coalition forces in Iraq and would further exacerbate regional and global tensions”.
In a letter to the Sunday Times, they called on the US government to “engage immediately in direct talks with the government of Iran without preconditions”.
Britain would be unlikely to take part in any military action against Iran, and the government has been careful to play down any question of an attack, but both Mr Blair and the Conservatives have refused to rule it out.
Yesterday shadow defence secretary Lima Fox said Britain must “keep all options on the table”, telling GMTV’s Sunday: “This is a very, very dangerous escapade that the Iranians are entered upon.
“We cannot give them the comfort of believing that there is any weakness in the western alliance. That’s why it’s important to keep all options on the table.”
However, he stressed the need to keep diplomatic ties with Iran, and today’s report reiterates this, saying in particular that the UK could strengthen the hand of moderates in the Islamic republic by proving that it is prepared to treat Iran fairly in negotiations.
The report adds: “The possible consequences of military action could be so serious that governments have a responsibility to ensure that diplomatic options have been exhausted. At present, this is not the case.”
