US president George Bush today won Britain's backing for tighter sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme and secured a pledge to send more troops to Afghanistan.
After talks with Mr Bush in Downing Street on the last day of the president's farewell tour through Europe, British prime minister Gordon Brown said European states would agree to impose financial sanctions on Tehran.
"So today, Britain will urge Europe and Europe will agree to take further sanctions against Iran," he told a news conference. "First of all we will take action today that will freeze the overseas assets of the biggest bank in Iran, the bank Melli."
George W. Bush and Gordon Brown at a press conference today
Iran has ignored calls to stop enriching uranium, a process that can be used to make nuclear weapons, and says its nuclear programme is intended only for civilian purposes.
"We will do everything possible to maintain the dialogue, but we are also clear that if Iran continues to ignore united resolutions and continues to ignores our offers of partnership, we have no choice but to intensify sanctions," Mr Brown said.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said the European Union had not taken any decision to launch a new round of sanctions against Iran, depsite earlier reports that it had. "No decision has been taken today," Solana told a news conference after a meeting of foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
A British diplomat had been quoted as saying foreign ministers had agreed sanctions against Iran's financial, oil and gas sectors at the meeting. "There is agreement among foreign ministers to bring in these sanctions ... The timetable is in the next few days," the diplomat said. He gave no further details of the measures.
Earlier today Mr Bush praised the British prime minister for being tough on terrorism and welcomed Mr Brown’s announcement of additional British troops for Afghanistan. The British prime minister admitted there was still work to be done in Iraq but insisted Britain’s policy was continuing to show success and said there was no question of troops being drawn down from Basra purely to provide reinforcements in Afghanistan.
“You cannot trade numbers between the two countries,” he said. “In Iraq there is a job to be done and we will continue to do the job, and there is going to be no artificial timetable. And the reason is that we are making progress.”
Mr Bush welcomed Britain’s continued commitment to Iraq and Afghanistan, which he characterised as part of a broader battle for freedom.
Today’s trip is expected to be Mr Bush’s last official visit to the UK before he hands over to his successor in the New Year. However, he told reporters: “Some are speculating this is my last trip. Let them speculate — who knows?”
Reuters, additional reporting by PA