Bush threatens Iran with military action

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor
Tuesday, 17 June 2008
George Bush has warned Iran that military action is still "on the
table" if it fails to respond to tightening diplomatic pressure to
abandon its nuclear weapons programme.

The EU is planning to announce the freezing of all overseas assets of the main
bank in Iran. Sanctions are also to be tightened on gas and oil exports by
Iran.
But the US President's remarks on the last leg of his "farewell tour"
of Europe raised fears at Westminster that Mr Bush is determined to take
action against Iran before he leaves office in January if the sanctions fail
to force Tehran to abandon its nuclear weapons ambitions.
Standing alongside the President after more than an hour of talks in Downing
Street, Gordon Brown surprised EU council officials by announcing that the
EU intends to intensify its sanctions on Iran, including freezing the
billions of euros in overseas assets of the Melli Bank of Iran.
But Mr Bush left no doubt that the US is holding military action in reserve.
Thanking Mr Brown for keeping together the European alliance "so that
we can solve this problem diplomatically", Mr Bush said: "That is
my first choice. The Iranians must understand that all options are on the
table, however."
The EU foreign policy chief Xavier Solana delivered a more generous offer to
the Iranian regime at the weekend and is now awaiting its reply. It includes
help in developing civil nuclear power and extending economic assistance if
Iran stops enriching uranium to produce weapons-grade plutonium. Ali
Larijani, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, promised to "carefully
study the package".
EU council officials said tougher sanctions were not on the agenda when Mr
Solana briefed his officials but Downing Street insisted sanctions were
being prepared. It is likely they will be implemented next week.
Mr Brown said: "Our message to the Iranian people is you do not have to
choose the path of confrontation. The latest round of talks with the
Iranians took place over the weekend. We put our enhanced offer on the table
including political and economic partnership including nuclear technology
for civilian use.
"We await the Iranian response and will do everything to maintain the
dialogue but we are also clear that if Iran continues to ignore UN
resolutions and our offer of partnership, we have no choice but to intensify
sanctions."
A spokesman for the Stop the War Coalition, which protested against Mr Bush's
arrival at Downing Street on Sunday, said: "Bush has been travelling
round Europe trying to secure support for sanctions and a possible future
attack on Iran."
Mr Brown also announced that Britain is sending more troops to Afghanistan as
the bodies of five soldiers killed in action last week were brought home.
About 400 support staff are being withdrawn, but 630 more troops are being
flown out.
Mr Brown is due to announce troop withdrawals from Basra before the summer
recess of Parliament at the end of next month.