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BRITAIN’S Prime Minister has warned Iran that it faces a “clear choice” over its nuclear programme, with tougher sanctions for defying the international community.
But he added that an expansion of civil nuclear power was needed globally to meet carbon reduction targets.
Brown spoke in London yesterday at a conference hosting more than 100 representatives from 37 countries as well as well as experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the nuclear industry, academics and legislators.
The British premier encouraged Iran to accept United States (U.S.) President Barack Obama’s offer of negotiation and to heed calls from China, Russia and leading European powers to comply with United Nations (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.”
Delegates were from nations considering establishing a nuclear programme as well as those with well-developed civil nuclear industries. Countries participating included Albania, Algeria, Argentina, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Turkey and United Arab Emirates.
The conference fits into Britain’s strategy of helping countries committed to peaceful use of nuclear power while taking a “zero tolerance” stance on the spread of nuclear arms.
Brown, according to the Associated Press (AP) yesterday, called for tougher safeguards against the spread of nuclear weapons, highlighting the risk of more states acquiring nuclear weapons and that they could fall into the hands of militant groups like al Qaeda.
He said Britain would also be at the forefront of nuclear disarmament efforts and said that Britain might be prepared to reduce the number of nuclear warheads carried by its submarine fleet as part of a multilateral negotiation.
Britain says it is ready, under a Nuclear Fuel Assurance programme, to ensure nuclear fuel supplies to countries committed to peaceful use of nuclear power, if supplies from other sources are disrupted for political reasons.
Speakers at the conference, include IAEA Deputy Director-General Yury Sokolov, Khaled Toukan, chairman of Jordan’s Atomic Energy Commission and officials from Germany and the Netherlands. IAEA Director- General Mohamed ElBaradei also sent a pre-recorded message.
The United States, Britain and four other powers have offered Iran civil nuclear cooperation as part of a package of incentives to try to persuade Tehran to stop uranium enrichment, which the West fears is aimed at building a nuclear bomb.
Iran has said it is developing civil nuclear power, rather than weapons, and refuses to stop its work.
Brown added that Britain would “be ready” reduce its number of nuclear warheads “if it is possible”.
The prime minister, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reported, 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.
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.
“Iran therefore faces a clear choice,” Brown told the audience of diplomats and scientists.
“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.”
Brown said: “However we look at it, we will not secure the supply of sustainable energy on which the planet depends, without 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 when international talks are held next year, he added.
Brown pointed out that “if it is possible to reduce the number we have of our own warheads… Britain will be ready to do so”.
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.”
In a separate development, many universities in England and Wales are seeking a sharp increase in tuition fees, according to a survey by the BBC.
Two thirds of vice-chancellors, speaking anonymously, said they needed to raise fees, suggesting levels of between �4,000 and �20,000 per year.
More than half of university heads want students to pay at least �5,000 per year or for there to be no upper limit.
England’s Higher Education Minister, David Lammy, said there was an “important debate to be had”.
The National Union of Students has warned of debts of �32,000 for students if fees rise to �7,000 per year.
The controversy over tuition fees is set to be re-opened, five years after it sparked one of the biggest backbench rebellions faced by the Labour government.
University fees must be reviewed this year by the government – and there are already arguments about whether the present �3,500 cap on fees should be lifted.