Bush wants diplomatic solution to Iran crisis: UK

By Madeline Chambers

LONDON (Reuters) – President Bush wants and believes in a
diplomatic solution to the international standoff with Iran
over its nuclear program, British Prime Minister Tony Blair
said on Thursday.

Blair, one of Bush’s closest global allies, pointed to last
week’s offer from Washington to talk to Tehran if it suspended
uranium enrichment work as a very significant development.

“I think that is a big step. It indicates that America
wants to find a diplomatic solution to this,” Blair told
reporters at a monthly press conference.

The United States and many of its western allies believe
Iran wants to develop nuclear weapons, but the Islamic Republic
says it needs atomic technology for power generation.

“In every discussion I have ever had with the (U.S.)
president about Iran it has always been clear that although he
is determined, as he should be, to prevent the acquisition of a
nuclear weapons capability by Iran, he nevertheless wants and
believes a diplomatic solution can be found,” Blair said.

Washington has said it is seeking a diplomatic resolution
to the crisis but has not ruled out military action.

In Algiers, visiting junior Foreign Office Minister Kim
Howells told reporters: “We have no plan at present for
military action but we are determined to play our role for a
peaceful world.”

Washington’s offer to talk came just before Iran was
presented with proposals backed by six world powers aimed at
defusing the nuclear standoff.

The offer, backed by the United States, China, Russia,
Britain, France and Germany, includes incentives to encourage
the world’s fourth biggest oil exporter to give up uranium
enrichment.

But it also contains penalties if Iran rejects the offer.

Blair said it was good that Iran was seriously considering
the proposals but signaled there was growing international
support for more robust measures if Iran were to say “no.”

“I hope very much that they don’t reject it because that
would cause a lot of difficulty,” said Blair.

He declined to be drawn on exactly what action would follow
if Iran did not agree to the offer, but said this had been
discussed by those involved in the talks.

“Everyone agreed that that was the right basis on which it
should be made — that enrichment was suspended and then the
Americans join the talks, I think it’s possible that others
will come in on the back of that too,” said Blair.

Earlier on Thursday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
said threats would not work in solving the dispute but added
Iran was ready to clear up misunderstandings with the world.

(Additional reporting by Bill Maclean in Algiers)