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Blair welcomes cooperation in relieving Iranian nuclear concerns

IRNA

London, Dec 2, IRNA -- Prime Minister Tony Blair Tuesday welcomed the 
cooperation from the UK`s European Union partners in relieving 
concerns over Iran`s nuclear program but denied that it was an example
of collective diplomacy standing up to US unilateralism. 
"I think it is good France, Germany and Britain cooperated in 
achieving a result in respect of the inspection of the Iranian 
program," Blair said in response to a question from IRNA. 
He said that it was very important to keep up the pressure because
it is a `potentially dangerous situation` and was sure that Iran 
realizes that it fulfills its obligations completely. 
The prime minister was responding to a question on whether he 
agreed with the International Atomic Energy Agency`s chief Mohammed 
ElBaradei that resolving Iran`s nuclear concerns was a `win-win 
situation that could open up a new chapter in EU-Iran relations`. 
ut he rejected suggestions that the deal based on an agreement 
reached with the British, French and German foreign ministers during 
an unprecedented visit to Tehran last month was a prime example of 
multilateral diplomacy standing up against US unilateralism. 
Blair`s comments, expressed during his monthly press conference in
London, are his first since the IAEA adopted a resolution by consensus
last week that rejected recommending sanctions against Iran in the 
face of US pressure. 
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said that the resolution was 
the `result of the intensive diplomatic consultations that followed 
our visit` to Tehran. 
"We and our partners look forward to continued cooperation with 
Iran. Already our approach, based on international unity and 
constructive but critical engagement, has brought us further forward 
than many had imagined possible," he told parliament last Thursday. 
The prime minister`s press conference was dominated by questions 
on his plans for domestic reforms, especially over controversial 
proposed legislation to introduce university fees for undergraduates. 
He insisted that there would be `no retreat` over bringing in 
student top-up fees despite opposition from more than 140 backbench 
Labor MPs. 
HC/AH/210 
End