Brown: Iran Military Move Possible
(LONDON) — British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday that tougher sanctions are likely against Iran over its contested nuclear program and declined to reject outright the prospect of future military action.
Brown, holding his first Downing Street press conference, said he believed sanctions aimed at persuading Iran to halt uranium enrichment were working, but predicted a swift new U.N. Security Council resolution aimed at increasing pressure on Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“I’m not one who is going forward to say we rule out any particular form of action,” Brown said, asked if he would rule out options for future military action against Iran.
“But I firmly believe that the sanctions we are imposing on Iran are sanctions that are having an effect already,” he said. “There will probably be a further resolution in relation to Iran soon, and I believe that is a way forward that is working and will work.”
The United States and some of its allies, including Britain, fear Tehran is using its civilian nuclear program as a cover to produce atomic weapons. Iran denies the charge and has rejected two U.N. Security Council resolutions requiring it to halt uranium enrichment work.
“Again, I appeal to the Iranian authorities to understand the fears that other countries have about the development of the nuclear weapons program,” Brown told reporters.
He said Britain would “take whatever measures are necessary to strengthen the sanctions regime in the future.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency said this month that Iran has scaled back its uranium enrichment program, signaling a possible willingness from Tehran to resolve the international deadlock.
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Sanctions are working? Oh come on Brown stain…even you are smarter than that?
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:43 amIt may be all talk but Mr. Brown seems to be growing a set. Found your site through Big White Hat and Texas Fred. I will definitely be back.
July 23rd, 2007 at 7:43 amYes Dan, sanctions are working although it is a little slow. Remember the gas riots in Iran? Also, many more Iranians are getting fed up with their leaders because their economy is getting a whole lot worse partly because of the sanctions.
July 23rd, 2007 at 8:54 amI don’t think so Joe. Mookie is outsmarting himself, by bankrolling one jihad after another and taking the monies from the Iranian people. More than anything, that and his insane rhetoric are driving Iranians over the brink.
But not quite to the point of rebellion. You want sanctions? Block his ports. Better still, destroy his military and nuclear capacity…and then we might see some progress. Sanctions aren’t doing squat.
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:08 amI agree Dan, the only way these sanctions will work is through some sort of a strike. Im not suggesting boots on the ground in Iran, Ill leave that to the military. But maybe a good missile strike will remind them they are in our target range and not to forget who we are. blocking the ports would be a sure fire way to speed up the effect of the sanctions too. Military blockades do work
July 23rd, 2007 at 9:59 amMr. Brown, you forgot to say please.
July 23rd, 2007 at 11:40 amAhmadinejihad is blowing smoke up the international community’s collective ass if he STILL claims that he needs to enrich uranium for his ‘peaceful, domestic, nuclear program.’
As a gesture of good faith, and to verify/expedite his claims/desires, he has been offered the option of buying “ready-made” reactor fuel, - to serve his so called domestic power/utility needs, but instead he rejects it in favor of enriching his own “fuel.”
Not exactly a rational course of action for someone who proclaims “peaceful intentions…”
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:51 pmI would drop a daisy-cutter in Mooks back yard, just let them know what they are in store for.
July 23rd, 2007 at 6:51 pm