Hans Blix questions U.S. fears over Iran, challenges *

[babylonsister]

Hans Blix questions U.S. fears over Iran

Updated Wed. Oct. 24 2007 12:23 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

Former United Nations' chief weapons inspector Hans Blix has challenged U.S. President George Bush's assertion that Iran poses a nuclear threat and the world should take pre-emptive action.

Bush has recently renewed calls for a missile defence shield in Europe, issuing grim warnings that Iran could have a ballistic missile capable of reaching Europe and the U.S. by 2015.

Blix, who is the executive chair of the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission and headed the search for WMDs in Iraq prior to the U.S. invasion, acknowledged Iran has a nuclear enrichment program and has long-range missile capability. But he told CTV's Canada AM that Bush is over-reacting.

"Right now, I don't think it's a threat," Blix said.

"President Bush talks about 2015. There's time to negotiate with Iran and to carry out those negotiations in a sensible manner. I think they use too much sticks and they should use more carrots, just as they've done in the case of North Korea where they are making some headway."

And if the U.S. does move forward with a missile defence plan, it should only be done in co-operation with other nuclear powers, including Russia and China, Blix said.

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