Europe supports Bush over Iran sanctions
Published: Monday, June 16, 2008
13:03GMT—9:03AM/EST
BUSH – EUROPE – IRAN – SANCTIONS – BROWN
Washington, 16 June (IranVNC)—Rounding off his week-long European tour in the UK today, President George W. Bush has succeeded in garnering European support for his push on imposing stronger sanctions against Iran, if the country refuses to suspend its uranium enrichment program.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was the latest head of state to commit himself to tighten sanctions against the Islamic Republic in the event it continues to reject calls to stop enriching uranium, which could be used to make a nuclear bomb, reports Reuters.
“We will do everything possible to maintain the dialogue, but we are also clear that if Iran continues to ignore united resolutions and continues to ignore our offers of partnership, we have no choice but to intensify sanctions,” said Prime Minister Brown at a joint news conference with President Bush in London.
Brown went on to call on other European leaders to follow suit in stepping up economic pressure on Iran, saying: “So today, Britain will urge Europe and Europe will agree to take further sanctions against Iran…First of all we will take action today that will freeze overseas assets of the biggest bank in Iran, the bank Melli, and second, action will start today for a new phase of sanctions on oil and gas.”
Although Iran said on Saturday it would not suspend its program, the international community is waiting with bated breath for a formal response from Iran on the package of political and economic incentives offered this weekend by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in exchange for Iran’s halt on enrichment activities.
However, According to Reuters, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a senior member of the Iranian parliament, said Iran was in no rush to respond. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said the package would be studied before releasing a formal response.
In addition to support for sanctions against Iran, Prime Minister Brown also announced Britain would commit additional troops to join American forces in the ongoing war in Afghanistan, bringing the number of British troops in the region to the highest level so far.
Throughout his farewell European tour earlier this week, Bush also received similar pledges of support on Iran and Afghanistan from German chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, and French president Nicolas Sarkozy.
President Bush will stop off in Northern Ireland before returning to Washington.
Sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse
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