http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/theworld/2006/May/theworld_May1034.xml§ion=theworld&col=LONDON - British Prime Minister Tony Blair bowed to US pressure by toughening remarks on Iran and softening them on global warming while in Washington, according to a report on Sunday that Blair’s office denied.
Aides told journalists three hours before a speech on Friday that Blair would stress that “change should not be imposed” on Iran, reflecting Britain’s view that bombing or invading Iran is unrealistic, The Sunday Telegraph said.
US officials had insisted, however, that the possibility of military action remained “on the table”, as it helped to exert maximum pressure on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, according to the report based on unnamed British sources.
By the time he made his key speech on foreign policy at Georgetown University, Blair said only that “I am not saying we should impose change,” leaving the door open for military strikes.
Blair meanwhile backed down from plans to take a tough line on global warming and the Kyoto Treaty, which Washington still has not signed, the newspaper said.