23 October 2007
Iran’s behaviour in apparently defying the international community to press ahead with its nuclear programme is "unacceptable" and could bring "tougher sanctions", the PM has said.
In a Downing Street press conference with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert, the Prime Minister said it was paramount for Iran to "take notice of the strong and concerted international pressure" building around the nuclear issue and to end its nuclear programme. The international community "will not accept the course they [Iran] have embarked upon", he said.
The PM said:
"We are absolutely clear that we are ready and will push for further sanctions against Iran. We will work through the United Nations to achieve this. We do not support the nuclear ambitions of that country.”
Mr Brown’s comments came as the EU’s foreign representative Javier Solana was scheduled to begin talks with Iran’s new chief negotiator, Saeed Jalili, in Rome. Mr Jalili’s predecessor, Ali Larjani, resigned on Monday sparking fears of a more hardline approach from Iran.
The International Atomic Energy Agency is due to report in November on Iran’s response to an IAEA workplan submitted to the Iranian authorities on how it should proceed. In today’s press conference, Prime Minister Olmert said it was time to "step up" efforts to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
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