Solana: military strike on Iran would be a 'mistake'
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Javier Solana - against a military strike (Photo: Irish EU Presidency)
By Marit Ruuda
A military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities would be "a mistake" and would enormously complicate the situation, the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana has warned.
Speaking on Britain's ITV television network on Sunday (6 February), Mr Solana said that such unilateral action would be counter-productive.
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Asked about US Vice President Dick Cheney's statement last month that Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities without warning, EU's foreign policy chief replied, "I think that would be something I would not like to see taking place".
"That would be a mistake. That will complicate enormously the situation", he added.
Asked his views on UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's comments that US military action against Iran is "inconceivable", Mr Solana replied, "I think at this point in time military action ... is very difficult to conceive".
"I don't think that the United States has at this point of time the wish or the will or the capability to do that", he continued.
Mr Solana's comments come as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is continuing her first major European and Middle East tour since taking up the job.
Last week in London Ms Rice claimed that a strike on Iran was "not on the agenda at this point".
The US has been urging a tougher stance against Tehran, while Germany, France and the UK are trying to persuade Tehran to drop its nuclear programme through diplomatic channels.
