Remarks by Prime Minister Blair on Iran During his Monthly Press Conference (Excerpts)

April 17, 2007

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Question: Prime Minister the policy review document you refer to speaks of a foreign policy for Britain that is values driven, activist and multilateralist. How does this translate to Britain's foreign policy towards the Islamic government of Iran?

Tony Blair: Well it is important because in respect of Iran we have wanted Iran to be in compliance with its international obligations, but we have said at the same time if Iran wants a different relationship with us we stand ready to have one. And obviously what we want in the end is to make sure that the whole of that region is more stable and more peaceful and I think in respect of Iran our policy has been very values driven but we need to have some echo back from the Iranian government. But I have got no doubt that the Iranian people are dynamic entrepreneurial people, it is basically a young population in Iran, I know they are heavily into the new technology, a lot of young Iranians travel and travel outside their country and I think it is a great shame if we can't have a better and more reasonable dialogue with the government and we stand ready to have that dialogue if they want it.

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