LONDON, Sept 1, (Agencies): Former British premier Tony Blair warned in an interview Wednesday that the international community may have “no alternative” to taking military action against Iran if it develops a nuclear weapon.

“I am saying that I think it is wholly unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapons capability and I think we have got to be prepared to confront them, if necessary militarily,” he said in extracts pre-released by the BBC from an interview to publicise his memoirs.

“I think there is no alternative to that if they continue to develop nuclear weapons. They need to get that message loud and clear.”

Blair expanded on the point in his book, which was being published Wednesday, saying that while a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a threat to the West, the real danger would come with its ability to boost Islamic extremism.

“Let us be frank: Iran is a far more immediate threat to its Arab neighbours than it is to America” or Britain, he wrote in the memoir, which recounts his experiences during his decade as prime minister from 1997 to 2007.

“That’s why Iran matters. Iran with a nuclear bomb would mean others in the region acquiring the same capability; it would dramatically alter the balance of power in the region, but also within Islam.”
Western powers and Israel accuse Iran of trying to build a nuclear arsenal.

Iran, which on Saturday began loading fuel into its Russian-built first nuclear power plant, denies the allegations, saying its programme is for civil energy purposes only.

Meanwhile, Japan is set to toughen sanctions against Iran as early as this week over its disputed nuclear programme, the Nikkei business daily said, following the United States and European Union’s leads in pressuring Tehran.

The unilateral measures, which go beyond sanctions imposed by the United Nations, include banning new investments in energy-related industries and imposing a limit on trade insurance, the Nikkei reported on Wednesday.

Japan’s additional sanctions are as tough as the European Union’s sanctions against Iran that were announced in July and are likely to hit Japanese firms that have transactions with Iran, the Nikkei reported.

But Tokyo, which relies on oil imports from the Islamic Republic, will not impose any import restrictions on crude oil, the Nikkei said.

Japan had approved sanctions against Iran in early August in line with a UN Security Council Resolution, but US officials have urged Tokyo to follow the European Union in adopting tougher sanctions. Tokyo has said it will mull more steps by end-August.

The fresh measures, which also include more than doubling the blacklist of targets for asset freezes to 88 companies and 24 individuals, is set to be decided by the cabinet on Friday, the Nikkei said.
Iran is now Japan’s No.4 crude supplier after Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. In 2009, Japan imported about 421,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude from Iran.