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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Brown warns Iran over nuclear plan |
| 2009-03-18 |
| Gordon Brown, Britain's prime minister, has said Iran has the right to civil nuclear power, but could face tougher sanctions if it refuses to co-operate with the international community over its atomic programme. At a nuclear energy conference in London on Tuesday, Brown also revealed he and the United States hope to rid the world of nuclear weapons. The prime minister said he and Barack Obama, the US president, shared "the ultimate ambition of a world free from nuclear weapons", adding that Britain would reduce its nuclear arsenal if the US and Russia also agree to reductions. But he said Iran could prove to be key in showing whether countries can share enriched uranium peacefully, as the world tries to become less dependent on fossil fuels to lessen the impact of climate change. "Iran is a test case for this new philosophy of the right to civil nuclear power with sanctions for rule breakers," Brown said, adding it had "the same absolute right to a peaceful civil nuclear programme as any other country. "Indeed the UK and the international community stand ready to help Iran achieve it." |
| Posted by:Fred |