British dossier argues against a military strike on Iran

1/23/2005 12:00:00 PM GMT

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has drawn up a report stating Britain's case against a military strike on Iran.

According to media reports, in his 200 page dossier Straw argues against an attack on Iran amidst rising fears that President Bush may seek support for this new conflict.

In his report, Straw argues for a "negotiated solution" rather than a military one to halt Iran's suspected ambitions to produce nuclear weapons. Straw believes that "a peaceful solution led by Britain, France and Germany is in the best interests of Iran and the international community," at the same stating the European countries intentions in "safeguarding Iran's right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology."

Reportedly, the dossier entitled Iran's Nuclear Programme, was quietly issued in the House of Commons on the eve of Bush's inauguration last week for fear of provoking a public rift with Washington.

Furthermore, it appears that relations between the two allies are not as rosy as previously perceived, with tensions running high between them.

The Iran report marks a sharp shift in strategy by the Labour government which in the run-up to the war in Iraq had produced two dossiers trumpeting the case to join the U.S. led invasion.

As further proof of their lack of desire in joining another war in the Middle East, British Prime Minister Tony Blair will reinforce his governments views to Bush when the two leaders meet up in Brussels, Belgium next month and at an Anglo-American summit to be held in Washington some time after the May general election.

It's believed that Straw will also push forward Britain's case to U.S. Secretary of State nominee Condoleezza Rice, a very close Bush confidante, when the pair meet up in London next month.

The growing suspicions that the United States is dead set on embarking on a military confrontation with Iran, grew after the publication of Seymour Hersh's report on American commandos operating inside Iran since mid-2004.

Even though the Pentagon attacked the report saying it was "riddled with errors of fundamental fact", no explicit denial of the covert operations were ever made.

American Vice-President Dick Cheney also waded into the Iranian issue by attempting to deflect attention away from the White House's plans of possibly attacking Iran. He warned that Israel could be the country that launches a pre-emptive strike on its own in an attempt to shut down Iran's nuclear program.