UK rules out military action against Iran

BRIGHTON - Military action against Iran over its nuclear ambitions is not on the agenda of the United States or Europe, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said.

Straw also urged Tehran to cooperate with the West to resolve a stand-off over its nuclear programme.

"There is no question of us going to war in Iran. Why? Because it's not going to resolve the issue," Straw said.

"No one is talking about going to war against Iran. It's not on the agenda of the United States," he told Sky News from the Labour Party conference in Brighton.

Washington, which accuses Iran of planning to build nuclear weapons, has said all options are on the table against Tehran but it has no immediate plans to use force. Iran insists it only wants to produce fuel for nuclear power stations.

Tensions have flared between the West and Iran after the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) passed a resolution requiring that Tehran be reported to the United Nations Security Council for possible sanctions, after Iran failed to convince the world its atomic ambitions were entirely peaceful.

Angered by the IAEA resolution, Tehran has already threatened to resume uranium enrichment -- a process that can be a step towards making bomb-grade material -- and curtail short-notice UN inspections.

Despite the IAEA's resolution, Straw told BBC Radio that Iran could still cooperate.

"We left the door open for further diplomatic action with Iran and I hope they take that opportunity," said Straw.

Britain, France and Germany had been negotiating with Iran over the nuclear issue but talks collapsed in August after Tehran rejected a package of political and economic incentives aimed at convincing it to scrap enrichment and other activities that could make bombs.

"All the United States president is saying is that all options are open ... I believe it (war) is still inconceivable," he told the BBC.

- REUTERS