British PM ups pressure on Iran, says it wants the bomb

France24

British Prime Minister David Cameron pledged Tuesday to "ratchet up" pressure on Iran, which he said was clearly intent on building nuclear weapons.

In a speech to lawmakers after the state opening of parliament, Cameron said he had spoken to French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about fresh EU and UN sanctions against Tehran.

"All the evidence points in the same direction -- that Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons," he told lawmakers, after the monarch outlined his Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government's legislative programme.

Cameron added: "For the last six years we have pursued a twin-track policy offering engagement but being prepared to apply pressure.

"I believe it is time to ratchet up that pressure and the timetable is short. This government has a clear objective to ensure stronger UN and EU sanctions against Iran."

Iran agreed a deal last week with Turkey and Brazil under which it would ship some low enriched uranium to Turkey in return for higher grade fuel for a research reactor.

Western governments have been dismissive of the deal, saying said fails to address international concerns about Iran's nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is peaceful but major powers believe is aimed at building a weapon.

"Even if Iran were to complete the deal proposed in their recent agreement with Turkey and Brazil, it would still retain around 50 percent of its stockpile of low-enriched uranium," Cameron said.

"And it is this stockpile that could be enriched to weapons-grade uranium."

Cameron also talked about the war in Afghanistan, where about 9,000 British soldiers are deployed, saying it was a "vital year" in the operation.

After a surge of US troops, "what we need now is a political surge with more effective and accountable government, a reformed Afghan police force and proper reconciliation at the centre," he said.

"This government will play a leading role in helping to bring that about."