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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No Iran strike plans, says Blair | No Iran strike plans, says Blair |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that diplomacy, not military action, is the best way to resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme. | UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that diplomacy, not military action, is the best way to resolve the stand-off over Iran's nuclear programme. |
| He told the BBC he was not aware of any plans to attack Iran and said the only viable solution was a political one. | He told the BBC he was not aware of any plans to attack Iran and said the only viable solution was a political one. |
| But he said he could not "absolutely predict every set of circumstances". | But he said he could not "absolutely predict every set of circumstances". |
| There has been tension with Tehran over its nuclear programme - which it claims is for fuel, not weapons - and its alleged role in Iraq's violence. | There has been tension with Tehran over its nuclear programme - which it claims is for fuel, not weapons - and its alleged role in Iraq's violence. |
| US officials recently displayed what they say is proof Iran is giving weapons to Shia militias in Iraq. | US officials recently displayed what they say is proof Iran is giving weapons to Shia militias in Iraq. |
| There is, as far as I know, no planning going on to make an attack on Iran Tony Blair | There is, as far as I know, no planning going on to make an attack on Iran Tony Blair |
| Democrats say they see parallels with the run-up to the Iraq war, when the US made a case for action on the basis of weapons which were never found. | Democrats say they see parallels with the run-up to the Iraq war, when the US made a case for action on the basis of weapons which were never found. |
| But Mr Bush has dismissed such speculation of an attack as "noise" by his critics. | But Mr Bush has dismissed such speculation of an attack as "noise" by his critics. |
| On Thursday, Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Iran is not Iraq. | On Thursday, Mr Blair told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Iran is not Iraq. |
| "There is, as far as I know, no planning going on to make an attack on Iran and people are pursuing a diplomatic and political solution, for a very good reason incidentally, that it's the only solution anyone can think of that is viable and sensible." | "There is, as far as I know, no planning going on to make an attack on Iran and people are pursuing a diplomatic and political solution, for a very good reason incidentally, that it's the only solution anyone can think of that is viable and sensible." |
| The Iraq war was unique - maybe it's time to talk again about why BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full | |
| On Wednesday Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would try to achieve nuclear capability as soon as possible, as a UN deadline for Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme expired. | On Wednesday Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Iran would try to achieve nuclear capability as soon as possible, as a UN deadline for Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment programme expired. |
| He said those countries calling on Iran to halt its nuclear programme should shut down their own facilities for producing nuclear fuel. | He said those countries calling on Iran to halt its nuclear programme should shut down their own facilities for producing nuclear fuel. |
| Last year Iran resumed uranium enrichment - a process that can make fuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclear bomb. | Last year Iran resumed uranium enrichment - a process that can make fuel for power stations or, if greatly enriched, material for a nuclear bomb. |
| Tehran insists its programme is for civil use only, but Western countries suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons. | Tehran insists its programme is for civil use only, but Western countries suspect Iran is trying to build nuclear weapons. |