. . .

Prime Minister:

Can I just add two other points? On Iran we agreed we have no assurances about uranium enrichment and the purpose of it in Iran. There is no evidence of a civil nuclear programme and therefore the uranium enrichment that has been part of the work of Iran is a problem for the international community. We will fight for a further UN resolution on these issues and of course consider further sanctions n the matter.

. . .

Question:

When you say that we think there should be more sanctions against Iran, are you talking about we Britain, or are you talking about we the EU?

Prime Minister:

Well I have already said a few weeks ago that we are prepared to support oil and gas sanctions and more financial service sanctions in Iran. I think we have got to recognise that the problem that we are dealing with, and have been dealing with, has not changed - it is the enrichment of uranium against international agreements, against promises that have been made, done secretly and of course subject to three UN resolutions which have been breached. And that is why David and the other Foreign Ministers have been taking up this issue within the European Union because all members of the European Union feel concerned about a country that breaks its promises to the international community and is of course as a result of Mr Solana's talks with us, has not convinced us that it is changing its ways. Now there is a place for Iran in the international community, we would welcome them into cultural, political, economic cooperation, but Iran has got to play by the rules and the rules are that they are part of an international agreement that said that these things wouldn't be happening.

Foreign Secretary:

Can I just add to that that I think we shouldn't lose the significance of the fact that a discussion on Iran - which has been a regular feature of Foreign Ministers meetings - has now moved to the European Council itself, and you can look at the detail that has been set out in the conclusions that are published now this afternoon. I think that in the light of some of the commentary on the national intelligence estimate, the conclusions are particularly significant because they make absolutely clear that the whole of the European Union, not just the E3, but the whole of the European Union want to see Iran as a proud and respected member of the international community, but are also equally clear that it is not yet playing by the rules and the enrichment and the missile testing, of which Iran boasts, are significant sources of instability in the Middle East and therefore it is absolutely right I think that the whole of the European Union sends a very, very clear signal about its seriousness of purpose in this area. And I think the fact that it should come from 27 Heads of Government of the European Union is something that I hope will be noticed around the world.

Question:

On Iran do you think the US national intelligence estimate was unhelpful in terms of trying to develop agreement on new sanctions? And if I may on the wise men, it is interesting hearing you after listening to President Sarkozy next door, he talked about it in very different terms, he talked about developing a new European dream, he talked about political union, these kinds of things. What do you think about discussing new European dreams and do you have one yourself?

Prime Minister:

What has happened in Iran and over Iran over recent days has not changed the central problem. The central problem is the enrichment of uranium in a situation where there is no civil nuclear purpose that can be detected that Iran is pursuing. And as David has said, that is in breach of all the international agreements that have previously been made and that is the problem that the international community has been dealing with for months now, and that problem has not changed. And I think it is very important to recognise that the reason there are sanctions, the reason there is the proposal for a third resolution, the reason that there are concerns in the European Union that were expressed unanimously today, is that against all promises and against all treaty agreements, Iran is enriching uranium where there is no civil nuclear purpose appearing to be there. And that is the issue that we will continue to deal with and that hasn't changed at all in the last few days.

Question:

Is the US National Intelligence Estimate unhelpful in trying to prevent Iranian proliferation.

Prime Minister:

The intelligence estimate is the intelligence estimate that has been published, but it is not about the enrichment of uranium. That is a fact that has been established, that is why Mr Solana is meeting the Iranians, that is why unfortunately he has had to report back that he has made no progress with the Iranians on this issue. And that is the reason for the economic sanctions and that is the reason why we continue to look at sanctions. As far as the group is concerned I just ask you to look at the test that has been agreed on this. It is about a review of aspects of globalisation and security issues related to 2020 - 2030, and as I said it is a very important area to look at, but it is long term, it does not include institutional change.

. . .

Question:

One final Question: on Iran. Did you discuss unilateral EU sanctions against Iran?

Foreign Secretary:

That was not the focus today. The focus today was on the next steps for the whole of the international community. Obviously the EU has established its own pattern of sanctions. EU trade with Iran, I think I am right in saying, was down 34% in the year to May 2007. All European countries are taking a very serious approach to this and I think that the next focus will be on the UN Security Council which is going to be the next focus for discussion.

Prime Minister:

And remember this was a clear unanimous position agreed by the European Council, all the Heads of Government, about the importance we attach to the next UN resolution on sanctions.

. . .