Straw hints at military action against Iran
The International News
10.14.2003
LONDON: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Tuesday he wanted the standoff over Iran’s nuclear programme resolved peacefully but did not rule out possible military action.
Asked in parliament if he ruled out such action if Iran did not cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog, Straw said: "We wish to see this matter resolved peacefully. I’m not going to predict what is going to happen except to say we have adopted a consistent approach in respect of Iran."
"The UK government has frequent contact with the government of Iran on this subject and we’ve made clear our serious concerns," Straw told parliament. "We’ve also made clear our wish that Iran must maintain complete transparency about its nuclear programmes and comply fully with the demands set out by the IAEA board of governors resolution on December 12."
The IAEA on Tuesday told Iran an October 31 deadline to clear up allegations that it is seeking nuclear weapons stood firm, as IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei prepared to leave for Tehran. The stern warning came after the Iranian opposition gave details on a secret nuclear installation where it claims the regime is enriching uranium with a view to producing atomic weapons.
IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming told AFP: "There are two phases to our work. The first phase involves Iran providing all the information to us on unresolved questions no later than October 31." Fleming said the second phase entailed verification of the information provided by Tehran.
ElBaradei, IAEA’s Secretary-General, was due to arrive in Tehran for a visit on Thursday on invitation of the Islamic republic. The inspectors’ concerns focus in particular on traces of highly enriched uranium found on two samples they took from a nuclear site in Natanz.
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