Foreign Secretary David Miliband arrives in Downing Street in London, June 2007. (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>
LONDON, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Britain's new Foreign
Secretary Dtriggering vid Miliband has warned Iran that the British government
would maintain a tough stance on Tehran's nuclear ambitions, The Financial Times
reported Monday.
In his first interview since becoming foreign
secretary 10 days ago, Miliband told the paper that Iran "has every right to be
secure, rich country" but "doesn't have the right to set off a nuclear arms race
in the Middle East" and "the right to undermine the stability of its neighbors".
He said the West was making a "very clear offer" that
would allow Iran to develop the civil nuclear power it needed.
In the first sign that Gordon Brown's new government
will not soften Britain's policy on Iran, Miliband said Britain would press
ahead with a third United Nations resolution to impose tougher sanctions on
Iran, if necessary.
"We are ready to work with our partners on a third
resolution," he said. "We think it is very, very important that the
international community remains clear and united on this issue."
Despite that Jack Straw, one of Miliband's
predecessors, regarded military actions against Iran as "inconceivable" two
years ago, Miliband did not make direct comment on possible military actions.
"I think that the whole of the international
community wants a non-military, diplomatic solution to this problem," he said.
"I don't think it does any good to speculate any wider than that."
Iran, branded by the United States as one of the
"state sponsors of terrorism," has been under UN sanctions for its refusal to
suspend uranium enrichment, which produces nuclear reactor fuel but can also be
used as material for an atom bomb.
Tehran rejects U.S. allegations, and insists its
nuclear program is solely aimed at generating power to meet its energy needs.
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