British Prime Minister Tony Blair said yesterday that no one is talking about invading Iran, but warned against sending a message of weakness in the dispute about Teheran's nuclear programme.

Asked in the House of Commons whether he would rule out a military attack on Iran, Blair said: "I've said constantly Iran is not Iraq, nobody is talking about military invasion.

But Blair said that "I do not think it is time to send a message of weakness" because Iran's president has called for Israel to be wiped off the map and there has been at least tacit acceptance by Teheran "for young people signing up to be suicide bombers directed at US, UK and Israeli targets."

Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats, asked Blair whether he agreed with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw that talk of a nuclear attack on Iran was "nuts."

Blair repeated that Britain and its allies were seeking a diplomatic solution.

Straw made the comment on April 9 in response to report in The New Yorker magazine that the United States had not ruled out a nuclear strike against Iran's underground atomic facilities.

Earlier, Straw said Iran was showing signs of responding to international pressure on its nuclear programme although he added that he doubted Teheran will meet the UN Security Council's April 28 deadline for ceasing uranium enrichment.

"They have responded more than I think people see," Straw told BBC radio from Saudi Arabia.

Little support for sanctions

Russia said yesterday it would not be rushed into agreeing action against Iran after the United States failed to win wide backing for sanctions at international talks in Moscow.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said a meeting of major powers in Moscow late on Tuesday had ended without consensus on sanctions because some, including Russia, wanted to wait until the UN atomic watchdog files a report on Iran on April 28.

"No final documents were worked out as we are convinced of the need to wait for the IAEA report due at the end of the month," Lavrov told reporters.

But Lavrov urged Iran to halt all uranium enrichment, saying the international community is demanding "urgent and constructive steps" to ease concerns about its nuclear programme, while official Iranian media reported that Teheran's top nuclear negotiator flew to Russia for talks on the issue.

"All participants in the meeting agreed that urgent and constructive steps are demanded of Iran," Lavrov said, adding that Teheran must heed calls "to suspend work linked to uranium enrichment."

Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency later reported that top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani flew to Russia for talks with European officials on his country's nuclear programme.

Source: China Daily