David Miliband

Foreign Secretary

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Saturday 26 September, 2009

Iran

Iran was a major focus of attention in New York last week. The E3+3 and many others expressed grave concern about its nuclear programme, and declared a determination to address it through negotiation if possible, isolation and sanctions if necessary. We also had the standard, abhorrent, remarks from President Ahmadinejad about Israel, insulting the values of the chamber in which he was speaking.

Friday saw the revelation of a covert enrichment facility near Qom. Iran's response was evasive. They denied it was secret. True-we knew about it and have now given the IAEA a full briefing along with France and the US. Then President Ahmadinejad said that  Iran did not have to declare all its nuclear facilities to the US. Also true, and totally beside the point. Iran has to declare them not to the US but to the IAEA, with whom it claims to be fully cooperating when in fact it has been covertly constructing the site for years contrary to the requirements of 5 UNSCRs and its own safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

We stand at a crossroads with Iran. Down one path lies the future offered by President Obama to the people and government of Iran in his new year message last March. A future where Iran can celebrate its past and look forward to the benefits that its resources, natural and human, should bring.

But down another path lies a future marked by  conflict, hateful rhetoric and missed opportunity. One in which Iran chooses to evade responsibility rather than engage, to isolate itself from the community of nations and to reject the outstretched hand on offer.

We have made very clear which path we wish to take.  But we cannot walk it alone.  On Thursday in Geneva Iran must make a simple decision about whether it will address our fundamental concern which is its nuclear programme.  This is Iran's choice not ours; the time for excuses is over.


UK, US and France condemn Iranian nuclear activity

Posted at 02:25 26 September 2009 by David Miliband  |  Comments[14]

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The war-fever against Iran is painfully reminiscent of the war-fever against Iraq I have "Groundhog Day" sensations, and I urge you not to press the UK blindly into another war in the Middle East. Israel has more nuclear weapons than the United Kingdom an illegal arsenal of 162 warheads in February. The UK has been providing heavy water and nuclear components to Israel, with a false paper trail through Norway. Whatever is going on Iran cannot justify the clamour for war, war and more war. With the benefit of hindsight the UK's participation in the invasion of Iraq was at least misguided. With the benefit of hindsight the UK's participation in Afghanistan has proved at least misguided and cost-ineffective lives and injuries. With the benefit of hindsight we should be cooling down the Israeli and American overheating about Iran, not joining in the cheerleading for another illegal war.

Posted by Tony on September 26, 2009 at 08:31 AM BST #

Since the birth of NPT many non-nuclear countries became nuclear which shows that there is a big gap in non-proliferation implementation. How the 'new nuclear powers' are coming into existence, is the big question before NPT accepting countries! The three E3+3 countries, UK, US and France, condemn the Iran's nuclear programme. To check the nuclear proliferation, there should be 'regular and compulsory' checking of nuclear centres and nuclear energy research institutes by IAEA and UN authorities, in every nation. The nuclear technology should NEVER be allowed for weapons purpose by any nation, whether nuclear or non-nuclear. [ Prabhat Misra, blog: http://onedaywithnature.blogspot.com ]

Posted by Prabhat Misra on September 26, 2009 at 03:49 PM BST #

You really should explain significant abbreviations within the text. Otherwise you're sending out a message that political elites don't need to communicate with the world of normal people, which hardly seems consistent with the spirit of an exercise like this blog.

Posted by OwenE2 on September 26, 2009 at 09:54 PM BST #

But then you still haven't bothered to comment on Britain's adjusted attitude towards China's relationship with Tibet. If you're determined not to, can you please give us a link to an FCO website giving some sort of coherent explanation?

Posted by OwenE2 on September 26, 2009 at 09:57 PM BST #

I think Iran made a wrong choice... very sad for them... I hope UK embassy in Vietnam will translate your blog into Vietnamese, therefore many people in Vietnam can understand your ideals and opinions, to communicate to each other better. It is important for us to understand each other. And I think it's very good if every UK embassy in every country can translate your blog into its local language.

Posted by Linh on September 28, 2009 at 02:58 AM BST #

We stand at a crossroads with Britain on nukes and offering up one Sub is no response to the public's desire to cancel the £135bn Trident2. If we can have nukes, why can't Iran? Britain doesn't have an independent foreign policy but just follows the US e.g. Iraq, Afganistan, Iran - so how can we have an independent nuclear deterrent? Trident is leased anyway and I bet we don't have unilateral launch command codes. I am utterly disappointed with David Miliband. I want democratically accountable foreign policy but am not represented in any way. My MP. Siobhain McDonagh doesn't do foreign policy with constituents. The FCO doesn't engage - the best they come up with is a standard reply if you are lucky. How many suggestions from individuals has the FCO run with this year and how many have been totally ignored? How is this department accountable to people beyond Parliament? Why not open up the FCO and give people a say?

Posted by Paul Barasi on September 28, 2009 at 01:42 PM BST #

Based on records one trusts Iran and not a Labour party and a misqualified d milliband who were part of the lies repeated about Iraq which was then illegally invaded.

Posted by Sir chief on September 29, 2009 at 01:32 AM BST #

Dear Sir, Please, kindly, be aware, that Iran still considers plans for constructing biological virological weapons of mass destruction. Their intelligence tries to find technologies for mass production of Ebola and Marburg viruses careers, suitable for use in long-range missiles and bombs. There are a lot of articles about these facts. Unfortunately, the technology for producing WoMD is well described in non-classified literature. Moreover, there are articles on selection of particular scenarios of warfare.

Posted by Ruben Iskandarjan on September 29, 2009 at 01:22 PM BST #

What about Israel? http://londonmuslims.blogspot.com/2009/09/israels-dimona-nuclear-plant-in-3-d.html

Posted by London Muslim on September 30, 2009 at 08:56 PM BST #

Iran is wrong to develop nuclear weapons but so is Israel. Why do you not follow a fair and open foreign policy. Yes critisise Iran but why do you not critisise Israel for their nuclear stance. Iran is at least part of the international community. Israel just ignores the rest of it. Israel imprisons millions of people and yet you are proud to be their friend. No doubt you convince yourself that you are doing your best for the Palestinians but the Palestinians continue to suffer. You have in fact done nothing of consequence for the Palestinians, in fact your support for Israel shows me your true colours. It is so sad that your represent British Foreign policy. You are so brave to stand up to Iran. No doubt you are prepared to send the British Army into another useless conflict.

Posted by Paul Macdonald on September 30, 2009 at 10:30 PM BST #

Why about Israel; the world is looking that Israel is fighting every seconds of time with terrorism and neighbour nations are not taking actions against the terrorism. The NPT implementation should be transparent. While implementing NPT, the concerned nation's security and the challenges the country is facing, should be keep in to cosideration. Israel's geo-political structure and location is very delicate; the support of world community is must for such nations. [Prabhat Misra]

Posted by Prabhat Misra on October 01, 2009 at 02:52 PM BST #

Mr. Miliband, I am hoping the developments in Geneva this Thursday will be the highlight of a new blog post, but seeing as how that has not yet happened, I thought I would ask: What do you think of the "progress" in the talks on Thursday? Iran has, according to American and other officials, agreed to open its Qom facility to inspectors and will be sending some of the uranium it has enriched to Russia to be turned into fuel. I believe this is a step in the right direction, but as some say, a small step in "rebuilding the trust" Iran has lost from the international community. Why should Iran “rebuild its trust” when the West, notably the United States, holds double standards regarding hot topics such as nuclear weapons? Furthermore, how much leverage does Iran have when the United States threatens Iran with tougher sanctions if they do not accept the United States' terms or, as Secretary of State Hilary Clinton put it, if "negotiations fail"? How fair are these talks?

Posted by Roxana Farahmand on October 02, 2009 at 11:58 PM BST #

Sir, thanks for raising this important issue. Being an woman, i would like to say that there should be more power given to womens in muslim countries; In Iran some great muslim womens are fighting for the womens rights, i salute them. World community should promote such leaders who are fighting for human rights for their citizens. [Dr. Mamta Shukla, KGDC, Kanpur, U.P., India]

Posted by Dr. Mamta Shukla on October 03, 2009 at 03:44 PM BST #

Iran’s problem is not seeing the obvious while hypothetically stick in to their own doubts. It hinders the way they perceive the world.

Posted by Chamila Liyanage on October 09, 2009 at 10:08 AM BST #

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