PM Brown: Britain will lead efforts against nuclear Iran

Prime Minister Gordon Brown focused the first address by a British prime minister to the Knesset to call on Iran to suspend its nuclear programme and accept offers made by the international community. "To those who question Israel's very right to exist, and threaten the lives of its citizens through terror we say: The people of Israel have a right to live here, to live freely and to live in security," Brown said, and referred to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls to wipe Israel from the map as "totally abhorrent". Brown added that "Iran has a clear choice to make: suspend its nuclear weapons programme and accept our offer of negotiations or face growing isolation and the collective response, not just of one nation, but of all nations aground the world."

Later in the day, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert praised PM Brown and called him "one of Israel's best friends in the western World." Olmert said that Brown had a special connection with Israel. "The relationship with him is wonderful, including on sensitive issues. The views he expressed on those issues and his willingness to help is impressive and emotional," Olmert said.

Meanwhile, PM Brown also met yesterday with Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defence Minister Ehud Barak which involved discussions about Iran, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinian peace process. According to the Defence Ministry's officials, Defence Minister Barak told Brown that it was necessary to tighten sanctions on Iran, and expressed his concerns over weapons smuggling from Syria into southern Lebanon in defiance of UN resolution 1701.

Britain has a leading role to play in placing international pressure on Iran, mostly through the prolific banking system and numerous finance firms that take part in the Iranian economy. Sources in the Foreign Office are reviewing UK policy on trade and financial ties with Tehran and will enforce restrictions according to decisions made domestically and by the European Union.

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