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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iran strike 'would be disastrous' | Iran strike 'would be disastrous' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A coalition of charities, faith groups and unions has warned Tony Blair that any military action against Iran would have "unthinkable" consequences. | A coalition of charities, faith groups and unions has warned Tony Blair that any military action against Iran would have "unthinkable" consequences. |
| The organisations are urging the prime minister to put pressure on the US to enter talks with Tehran. | The organisations are urging the prime minister to put pressure on the US to enter talks with Tehran. |
| The US has refused to rule out military action if Iran does not halt its nuclear activities. | The US has refused to rule out military action if Iran does not halt its nuclear activities. |
| Former Labour MP Lorna Fitzsimons warned that time was "running out" to stop Iran becoming nuclear-armed. | Former Labour MP Lorna Fitzsimons warned that time was "running out" to stop Iran becoming nuclear-armed. |
| Criticism | Criticism |
| The US and its Western allies suspect Iran of using its nuclear energy programme as a cover to produce atomic weapons. Tehran denies this claim. | The US and its Western allies suspect Iran of using its nuclear energy programme as a cover to produce atomic weapons. Tehran denies this claim. |
| Recent criticism by President George Bush of alleged Iranian support for insurgency in Iraq has increased concerns that his administration is contemplating an attack. | Recent criticism by President George Bush of alleged Iranian support for insurgency in Iraq has increased concerns that his administration is contemplating an attack. |
| The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable, they are unthinkable Former Labour minister Stephen Twigg Analysis: Worries over Iran | The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable, they are unthinkable Former Labour minister Stephen Twigg Analysis: Worries over Iran |
| In the report, Time to Talk: The Case for Diplomatic Solutions on Iran, the coalition accuses Mr Blair of using the prospect of military action as a negotiating tool. | In the report, Time to Talk: The Case for Diplomatic Solutions on Iran, the coalition accuses Mr Blair of using the prospect of military action as a negotiating tool. |
| Launching the report, former Labour minister Stephen Twigg, director of the Foreign Policy Centre, said: "The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable; they are unthinkable. | Launching the report, former Labour minister Stephen Twigg, director of the Foreign Policy Centre, said: "The consequences of military action against Iran are not only unpalatable; they are unthinkable. |
| "Even according to the worst estimates, Iran is still years away from having a nuclear weapon. | "Even according to the worst estimates, Iran is still years away from having a nuclear weapon. |
| "There is still time to talk and the prime minister must make sure our allies use it." | "There is still time to talk and the prime minister must make sure our allies use it." |
| Coalition | Coalition |
| The charity Oxfam, unions Unison, GMB and Amicus, have been joined by the Muslim Parliament and Christian Solidarity Worldwide in signing the report. | The charity Oxfam, unions Unison, GMB and Amicus, have been joined by the Muslim Parliament and Christian Solidarity Worldwide in signing the report. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Iranians like America, However, that can change overnight if the US attacks Iran David, Minneapolis/Tehran class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5441&edition=1">Send us your comments They warn that a strike against Iran would continue to destabilise the region and provoke further attacks against British forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. | |
| "Military action is not likely to be a short, sharp engagement but could have a profound effect on the region, with shock waves felt far beyond," the report says. | "Military action is not likely to be a short, sharp engagement but could have a profound effect on the region, with shock waves felt far beyond," the report says. |
| It goes on to say the British government is "well positioned to articulate objections to military action" and that it should "not lose this opportunity to advocate for direct US engagement". | It goes on to say the British government is "well positioned to articulate objections to military action" and that it should "not lose this opportunity to advocate for direct US engagement". |
| But Ms Fitzsimons, chief executive of the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we are talking about here is Iran reaching the ability on an industrial scale to manufacture highly enriched uranium." | But Ms Fitzsimons, chief executive of the Britain-Israel Communications and Research Centre, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "What we are talking about here is Iran reaching the ability on an industrial scale to manufacture highly enriched uranium." |
| 'Watershed' | 'Watershed' |
| International Institute for Strategic Studies and others were predicting this would happen within 11 months, she added. | International Institute for Strategic Studies and others were predicting this would happen within 11 months, she added. |
| Ms Fitzsimons said: "That is the watershed. There is no return from that point. | Ms Fitzsimons said: "That is the watershed. There is no return from that point. |
| "You can't get the genie back in the bottle technologically once they have sorted out the problem they currently have with their centrifuges. | "You can't get the genie back in the bottle technologically once they have sorted out the problem they currently have with their centrifuges. |
| "I don't think you can stop it. You might be able to disrupt it. It's a question of looking at how far you can go down the line where you lose the ability to disrupt it." | "I don't think you can stop it. You might be able to disrupt it. It's a question of looking at how far you can go down the line where you lose the ability to disrupt it." |
| Sir Richard Dalton, the British ambassador to Iran until last year, backed the calls for increased diplomacy. | Sir Richard Dalton, the British ambassador to Iran until last year, backed the calls for increased diplomacy. |
| "Recourse to military action - other than in legitimate self-defence - is not only unlikely to work but would be a disaster for Iran, the region and quite possibly the world," he said. | "Recourse to military action - other than in legitimate self-defence - is not only unlikely to work but would be a disaster for Iran, the region and quite possibly the world," he said. |
| Military warnings | Military warnings |
| Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore said: "This is a timely and significant report. | Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Michael Moore said: "This is a timely and significant report. |
| "It highlights the need for the international community to be more aware of the potentially disastrous consequences of military action against Iran." | "It highlights the need for the international community to be more aware of the potentially disastrous consequences of military action against Iran." |
| But the Conservatives said it was important to "keep all options on the table". | But the Conservatives said it was important to "keep all options on the table". |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "We cannot give them the comfort of believing that there is any weakness in the western alliance or that there is a chance that they might be able to divide and rule." | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "We cannot give them the comfort of believing that there is any weakness in the western alliance or that there is a chance that they might be able to divide and rule." |