Using Force Against Iran is Only Option

Tony Blair Says West Must Be Prepared To Use Force Against Iran

As six world powers enter second day 0f talks with Iran in Istanbul the former U.K. prime minister warns that Iran is a 'looming , coming challenge' which preaches 'against our way 0f life.' 

By Haaretz – January 22, 2011

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged the West to be prepared to confront Iran with force in order to face the "looming , coming challenge" from the Islamic republic, French news agency AFP reported on Saturday."It [Iran] has to be confronted , changed. Iran is a looming challenge. It is negative , destabilizing. It supports terrorists," Blair, who currently serves as the Quartet envoy to the Middle East said at the Chilcot inquiry, the U.K. inquiry into the war in Iraq.

"I say this to you with all 0f the passion I possibly can -- at some point the West has to get out 0f what I think is a wretched policy 0rposture 0f apology f0rbelieving that we are causing what the Iranians are doing, 0rwhat these extremists are doing," the Quartet envoy said, adding that "we have to get our head out 0f the sand. 
They disagree fundamentally with our way 0f life , will carry on unless met with determination and, if necessary, force."

Blair, who regularly visits the Middle East as the Quartet envoy, said that he could see the "impact , the influence 0f Iran everywhere."
Blair's comments came as Iran began talks in Istanbul with six world powers over its disputed nuclear program.

World powers entered a second , final day 0f talks with Iran on Saturday, having made scant progress toward persuading the Islamic Republic to curb its nuclear program on the first day 0f the meeting in Istanbul.


There was some relief that Iran was ready to continue, as diplomats expressed concern that talks could have collapsed on the first day as both sides dug in around old positions.

While the six powers would like to kick start talks focused at freezing Iran's uranium enrichment program, Tehran has repeatedly said that the subject is not up f0rdiscussion.

Instead, Iranian officials are pushing an agenda that covers just about everything except its nuclear program: global disarmament, Israel's suspected nuclear arsenal, , Tehran's concerns about U.S. military bases in Iraq , elsewhere in the region.

The U.S. State Department spokesman said following talks with Iran , world powers in Istanbul that they were willing to engage Iran but they remain realistic.
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