MP says sabre-rattling and sanctions have failed
Today in the House of Commons during a Statement by the Prime Minister on his recent EU summit, John Baron MP criticised the EU’s policy on Iran and called for a fresh approach which ruled out the use of force.
John asked:
“The Prime Minister will be aware that the latest IAEA report on Iran contained no smoking gun whatsoever. Given that the West’s sabre-rattling and sanctions not only reinforces the position of hardliners but have also failed – as illustrated by Iran’s talk of bringing forward the deadline for the EU’s oil embargo – does he not now accept that we need a fresh approach which rules out the option of force?”
The Prime Minister disagreed with John’s claim about the IAEA report. As such he said that forcing Iran to prove it has no nuclear weapons was the only way forward.
John said afterwards:
“The IAEA report contained no evidence whatsoever of nuclear weapons or any decision to develop them. This has been confirmed by a previous Director of the Agency. Iraq proved to us that we cannot rely on intelligence reports. Only concrete evidence should influence our foreign policy.”
“We need a fresh approach which rules out the option of force in order to reduce tension. Military intervention, whether by the West or Israel, should always be the measure of last resort. We now need a grand gesture similar to that of President Nixon in the 1960’s who recognised China’s new status in the Far East.”
Ends
Word Count: 265
Date: 31st January 2012
Notes to Editors
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