Below are excerpts from two articles published today. It seems that threats against Iran are again in vogue. Perhaps Nato's ouster of the Qaddafi regime has emboldened Western imperialism and increased the likelihood of future conflict. Of course declaring victory in Libya is still premature. Not to mention that countless numbers of civilians were killed and important Libyan infrastructure was destroyed in the process. God save us all...
Tony Blair Calls for Regime Change in Iran and Syria
By Nicholas Watt, chief political correspondent
The Guardian
Friday 9 September 2011
Tony Blair calls for regime change in Iran and Syria as he blames Tehran for prolonging the conflict in Iraq after the 2003 invasion.
In an interview to mark the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, the former prime minister warns that the Middle East would be "very, very badly" destabilised if Iran acquired nuclear weapons.
Blair, who is the Middle East peace envoy, tells the Times: "Regime change in Tehran would immediately make me significantly more optimistic about the whole of the region. If Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons capability it would destabilise the region very, very badly.
"They continue to support groups that are engaged with terrorism and the forces of reaction. In Iraq one of the main problems has been the continued intervention of Iran and likewise in Afghanistan."
The former prime minister appears to be open to the idea of a military attack against Iran if it comes close to acquiring nuclear missiles. But he makes clear he was not advocating a military strike.
Iran Tells UN it will Hit Back at Any Attack
Agence France Presse
Friday 9 September 2011
UNITED NATIONS — Iran warned it would "not hesitate" to hit back following a foreign strike on its soil in a formal complaint to the United Nations over a warning from French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Sarkozy said last week that Iran's "military, nuclear and ballistic ambitions constitute a growing threat that may lead to a preventive attack against Iranian sites that would provoke a major crisis that France wants to avoid at all costs."
Iran's UN ambassador said in a letter to UN leaders that his country would "not hesitate to act in self-defense to respond to any attack against the Iranian nation."
Iran would "take appropriate defensive measures to protect itself," ambassador Mohammad Khazaee told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council, of which France is one of the five permanent members.
Sarkozy had made "inflammatory remarks and baseless allegations," the envoy added.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran expresses its deep concern over, and strong condemnation of such a provocative, unwarranted and irresponsible statement against Iran," Khazaee said.
The French leader has been one of the most outspoken critics of Iran in the western alliance, which has accused Iran of seeking a nuclear bomb.
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