British PM says more sanctions necessary against Iran

[Raineyrocks]

    
World
British PM says more sanctions necessary against Iran
20:05    |    23/ 10/ 2007
   
Print version

LONDON, October 23 (RIA Novosti) - Britain is in favor of a broader range of sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear program, the British prime minister said on Tuesday, following talks with his Israeli counterpart.

Iran has so far been subjected to two rounds of UN Security Council sanctions for its refusal to halt its nuclear program, which many countries suspect is geared toward weapons production.

"We are ready and will push for further sanctions against Iran," Gordon Brown said, adding that all possible UN mechanisms should be involved in imposing pressure on Tehran.

"We will work through the United Nations to achieve this. We are prepared also to have tougher European sanctions. We want to make it clear that we do not support the nuclear ambitions of that country," Brown added.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he supported Great Britain's position, adding in particular that, "the existing economic sanctions are effective, but not sufficient."

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said on Monday that threats of further sanctions against the Islamic Republic would not work.

"The country's 29 years of experience indicates that imposing such sanctions only encourages us to attain self-sufficiency and make scientific and technological progress," he said.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved on September 25 a bill toughening sanctions against Iran, and banning the White House from any new nuclear cooperation with Russia and other countries cooperating with the Islamic Republic in the nuclear sphere.

The draft law also envisions that the largest branch of the country's military, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), could be put on the list of terrorist organizations.