Britain rules out war over Iran nuclear programme

Britain rules out war over Iran nuclear programme

	Published : Wed, 21 Mar 2007 19:13 By : Agencies Print this Story

ABU DHABI (AFX) - Britain today ruled out war with Iran over its nuclear programme as Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett discussed a drive to impose fresh UN sanctions against Tehran with Gulf Arab allies.

'No one is preparing for military action' against Iran, Beckett told reporters after talks with her United Arab Emirates counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahayan, which will be followed on Thursday by a visit to non-permanent UN Security Council member Qatar.

'The purpose of the sanctions proposals... is to get them (Iran) to come to negotiation. None of us wishes to impose sanctions... We want Iran to negotiate and come to agreement with the international community,' she said.

On Wednesday the Security Council was to begin crucial bargaining on whether to approve new UN sanctions against Iran proposed by Britain and the four other permanent council members -- the United States, France, China and Russia -- plus Germany.

The effort to toughen sanctions imposed in December after Iran refused to suspend sensitive nuclear fuel work follows a US naval buildup in the Gulf region, where two US aircraft carrier groups are currently deployed.

Western powers suspect Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, but Tehran denies the charge, saying it is pursuing a purely civilian programme.

The new Security Council draft bans Tehran from exporting arms, calls for voluntary trade sanctions and expands a list of officials and companies targeted for financial and travel restrictions.

Beckett said she discussed the draft resolution with the Emirati foreign minister, whose oil-rich country is Iran's largest trading partner.

Beckett said she would visit neighbouring Qatar on Thursday, where 'I'll be talking to our colleagues about Security Council matters, because of Qatar being an important member of the Security Council at this time.'

Gas-rich Qatar has good relations with Iran.

newsdesk@afxnews.com

afp/jfr

The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News.

AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited