Tannock: EU's concerted action on Iran addresses a major threat
Posted, January 23, 2012 @ 17:00
EU sanctions announced today against Iran were welcomed by Charles Tannock MEP, foreign affairs spokesman for Conservatives in the European Parliament.
He said: "Iran's nuclear military ambitions and its government's refusal to engage with the rest of the world on this issue constitute a major threat to global stability and a potential risk to peace in the Middle East, with an existential threat to the State of Israel in particular. It is also likely to lead to a regional arms race with countries such as Saudi Arabia also wishing to acquire such weapons if Iran is allowed to possess one in breach of its NPT international legal obligations.
"The measures agreed by the EU, in denying Iran some of its oil revenues and by making it harder for the leadership to move money around the world, will put pressure on Tehran to come back to the negotiating table.
"It shows that when there is a clear and urgent need for action, the EU does not always dither and dodge the issue. This is Europe speaking as one voice for once on the most serious global security threat and I would encourage Iran to start to listen."