British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and visiting U.S. President George W. Bush on Monday warned Iran that the country would face tougher sanctions if it continued to ignore offers of partnership and dialogue.
"We will do everything possible to maintain the dialogue, but we are also clear that if Iran continues to ignore united resolutions and continues to ignore our offers of partnership, we have no choice but to intensify sanctions," Brown said at a joint news conference with Bush following talks at No. 10, Downing Street.
"So today, Britain will urge Europe and Europe will agree to take further sanctions against Iran," he said.
"I will repeat that we will take any necessary action so that Iran is aware of the choice it has to make - to start to play its part as a full and respected member of the international community, or face further isolation," the British prime minister said.
President Bush told assembled media that he wanted to solve the Iranian issue "diplomatically" but was willing to look at other options.
"My first choice is to solve the problem diplomatically but all options are on the table," said Bush. "We must prevent the Iranians from having the know-how to create nuclear weapons."
"The Iranians must understand that when we come together and speak with one voice, we are serious," he added.
The world would help Iran achieve its civilian nuclear energy goals but would not tolerate the continuation of uranium enrichment, Bush emphasized.
"The Iranians are justified in wanting civilian nuclear power," he said. "But we don't trust them when they enrich uranium and say they want to destroy democracies."
On Sunday afternoon, Bush arrived in London for a two-day trip to Britain, the last leg of his final tour of Europe before leaving office in January.
Shortly after arriving at Heathrow airport, the U.S. president and First Lady Laura Bush flew by helicopter to Windsor Castle for a 45-minute tea with Queen Elizabeth II.
Later, the couple attended an informal dinner hosted by Prime Minister Brown at 10, Downing Street.
Even as they dined, about 2,500 protesters gathered at London's Parliament Square to demonstrate against President Bush's "War on Terror."
Chanting slogans of "Bush, terrorist" just about 270 meters from Downing Street, the protesters blew on whistles and beat drums to voice their opposition to the U.S-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Twenty-five people were arrested as they tried to breach a police cordon.
Britain had tightened security in view of President Bush's visit.
Earlier Sunday, another group of people rallied at Trafalgar Square to demonstrate against the U.S. prison camp in Guantanamo Bay, where many U.S.-defined terrorist suspects have been jailed for years without trial. Some prisoners there have been subjected to abuse, U.S. media reports say.
Source: Xinhua
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