The British government said today that military action against Iraq was not imminent but pledged to recall parliament from its summer break to discuss the issue if a decision was taken to launch a strike.
Foreign Secretary Mr Jack Straw also said Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could act to reduce the threat of a US-led military strike against him and his regime if he complied fully with international obligations set out by the UN Security Council.
"Military action is neither imminent, and it can be made far less than inevitable if Saddam Hussein complies with the clear United Nations Security Council obligations upon him," Mr Straw told BBC radio.
"The option of using military force has to be there if there is a failure by Saddam Hussein to comply with the obligations."
The British Prime Minister is expected to break his silence on Iraq today, giving the world its first chance in a month to judge whether Washington's closest ally is ready to join the United States in war.
A Downing Street spokesman said Mr Blaire was likely to speak to reporters during an 11-hour flight to Africa for a three-day trip during which he will visit Mozambique and speak at the Earth Summit in South Africa.
It will be his first session with the media since late July, when Mr Blair described Iraq as a serious threat but said no decision on whether to strike had been taken.