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| Brown renews Iran nuclear warning | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The prime minister has warned Iran it faces a "clear choice" over its nuclear programme, with tougher sanctions for defying the international community. | |
| Gordon Brown told a conference in London that Tehran, which continues to enrich uranium despite global pressure, was a "critical proliferation threat". | |
| But he said a huge expansion of civil nuclear power was needed worldwide to meet carbon reduction targets. | |
| Iran says this is what it is doing and refuses to stop its development work. | Iran says this is what it is doing and refuses to stop its development work. |
| The prime minister argued that Iran would be a test of how nuclear nations can work together with non-nuclear states to equip them with new sources of energy. | |
| He urged it to pursue a purely civil nuclear path with the promise of international support and engagement. | |
| 'Work with us' | 'Work with us' |
| Enriched uranium can be used in power plants, but can also be used to make atomic weapons. | Enriched uranium can be used in power plants, but can also be used to make atomic weapons. |
| The Iranian government continues to defy the international community, enriching enough uranium - according to a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Authority - to fill a warhead. | The Iranian government continues to defy the international community, enriching enough uranium - according to a recent report by the International Atomic Energy Authority - to fill a warhead. |
| "Iran therefore faces a clear choice," Mr Brown told an audience of diplomats and scientists. | |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| "Continue in this way and face further and tougher sanctions - or change to a UN-overseen civil nuclear energy programme that will bring the greatest benefits to its citizens." | |
| Mr Brown said: "However we look at it, we will not secure the supply of sustainable energy on which the planet depends, with a role for nuclear power." | |
| The world needed "moral leadership", he said, urging "collaboration, not isolation". | |
| Britain would be "at the forefront" of efforts towards general nuclear disarmament, he added. | |
| Consequences | |
| Mr Brown encouraged Iran to accept US President Barack Obama's offer of negotiation and to heed calls from China, Russia and leading European powers to comply with UN nuclear resolutions. | |
| "I urge Iran, once again, to work with us rather than against us upon this," he said. | |
| "The opportunity to do so remains on the table and the choice is theirs to make." | |
| Defence Secretary John Hutton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that, if Iran continued with its nuclear weapons programme, it "would be very destabilising for the region and the world. The consequences of that are too frightening to think about". | Defence Secretary John Hutton told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that, if Iran continued with its nuclear weapons programme, it "would be very destabilising for the region and the world. The consequences of that are too frightening to think about". |
| Mr Brown's speech would be a "restatement of what our policy is" and was "absolutely the kind of speech Barack Obama could make". | Mr Brown's speech would be a "restatement of what our policy is" and was "absolutely the kind of speech Barack Obama could make". |
| Mr Hutton said: "They haven't actually got a civil nuclear power reactor. So people are right to raise eyebrows about their programme." | Mr Hutton said: "They haven't actually got a civil nuclear power reactor. So people are right to raise eyebrows about their programme." |
| 'Generous' | 'Generous' |
| He added: "We have got to be clear with Iran about the consequences of them not complying. The clock is ticking on all of this... | He added: "We have got to be clear with Iran about the consequences of them not complying. The clock is ticking on all of this... |
| "The offer is still on the table for the Iranians to take up this extraordinarily generous and, I think, unprecedented offer to help them with their [civil] programme." | "The offer is still on the table for the Iranians to take up this extraordinarily generous and, I think, unprecedented offer to help them with their [civil] programme." |
| The new US administration has offered to engage with Iran to reduce tension over the issue while insisting it will not tolerate it having a nuclear bomb and extending sanctions against Tehran. | The new US administration has offered to engage with Iran to reduce tension over the issue while insisting it will not tolerate it having a nuclear bomb and extending sanctions against Tehran. |
| Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is facing elections this year, has shown little sign of wanting a "deal" to put the country's nuclear programme under international supervision in return for the lifting of sanctions and financial assistance. | Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who is facing elections this year, has shown little sign of wanting a "deal" to put the country's nuclear programme under international supervision in return for the lifting of sanctions and financial assistance. |
| The international community will face a significant challenge in ensuring the necessary expansion of civil nuclear power does not lead to weapons proliferation, Mr Brown will add. | The international community will face a significant challenge in ensuring the necessary expansion of civil nuclear power does not lead to weapons proliferation, Mr Brown will add. |
| According to International Atomic Energy Agency forecasts, more than 30 nuclear reactors will have to built every year if the world is to meet its target of halving carbon emissions by 2050. | According to International Atomic Energy Agency forecasts, more than 30 nuclear reactors will have to built every year if the world is to meet its target of halving carbon emissions by 2050. |
| "We have to create a new international system to help non-nuclear states acquire the new sources of energy they need," the prime minister will say. | "We have to create a new international system to help non-nuclear states acquire the new sources of energy they need," the prime minister will say. |
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| Is Iran's nuclear programme a threat? Send us your comments using the form below: | Is Iran's nuclear programme a threat? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| Name | Name |