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Gordon Brown today issued his sternest warning yet to Iran, calling for “tough and immediate sanctions for those who break the rules” on weapons proliferation.
In a speech at the UN Security Council in New York the Prime Minister said the world “cannot stand by” as Tehran and North Korea develop weapons.
“Today we have to draw a line in the sand. Iran must not allow its actions to prevent the international community from moving forward to a new international era. We must now consider far tougher sanctions together.”
He spoke after Barack Obama set out his vision for a nuclear-free world today as leaders agreed a historic pledge for global disarmament.
The US President won unanimous UN Security Council agreement for a motion calling on all nuclear states to work towards scrapping their stockpiles of weapons.
Quoting Ronald Reagan's edict that a nuclear war “cannot be won and must never be fought”, Mr Obama warned Iran that he would work with Russia and China to enforce sanctions against proliferation.
Moscow appeared to warm to American demands to help curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions. Mr Brown offered to put Britain's Trident system on the negotiating table and signalled that he would stand firm with the US on Iran. The resolution calls for stepped up efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote disarmament and “reduce the risk of nuclear terrorism”.
It was only the fifth time the Security Council met at summit level since the UN was founded in 1945. Mr Obama, who became the first US president to preside over a Security Council summit, said: “The historic resolution we just adopted enshrines our shared commitment to a goal of a world without nuclear weapons.”
Away from the public display of unity, it had earlier been suggested that Downing Street had made five unsuccessful attempts to set up one-to-one talks between the British and US leaders. Lord Malloch-Brown said: “They should not have been so desperate.”
Reader views (37)
England is so far up the USA that we even sing in an American accent. My point is that I left England over 20 years ago to escape NHS, the weather and your MPs. I like to earn money and take great holidays and drive great cars and live in a big house and send my kids to Universities.
- Colin Stevens, Farmington MI ,USA
Why on earth should the American President waste his time on a total loser who will be unemployed within months? Obama is a statesman, Brown a waste if space.
- Minority Working Person, London/England
You cannot 'un-invent'something! The horse has bolted, it is far to late to close the gate. When it suited us, (Israel, India, Pakistan acquiring nuclear weapons) we had muted protest, now, with Israel of all countries screaming (pot, kettle, black, comes to mind!)we have to do something! The West's short-sightedness has lead to a position which has turned around and bit it on its ass, and, deservedly so! we better get used to the fact that the world is a much more dangerous place, and, we only have ourselves to blame!
- Kevin Sullivan, Roehampton, London.
"Brown demands" Hahahahahahahahahahah.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
Brown issues a warning to Iran. My god the Iranians must be shaking in their boots. Give it up Gormless Gordon , nobody in Britain listens to you because you are a lost cause
- T.Nicholson, Bedale, UK
Obama looks like he's Browns careworker in that shot!!
- Sick Of Communism, Communist Britain
So called walk and talk meetings, whether in kitchens or corridors are always intimately face to face meetings. They are moments when decisions get made and deals are brokered. Journalists are never present and aides are used as door keepers. It is a common feature of intergovernmental meetings. I have attended many.
During Trudeau's repatriation of the Canadian constitution from Westminster in 1980-83, I remember one such talk and walk in a corrider and broom closet. Working for the Inuit, I watched as Inuit and native Indian leaders reached agreement on the wording of 5 aboriginal rights clauses in Trudeau's Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
There was no mention of Metis rights, a big issue in the Canadian prairies. Metis leader Harry Daniels, G-d bless him, remonstrated. Jean Chretien said "But Harry, why should I put Metis rights in?" Grabbing Chretien by the tie, Harry said "Because if you don't tomorrow Calgary, Saskatoon and Winnepeg will burn!"
Chretien returned to the Committee Room where the Constitutional rights were getting final ratification. Canada recognised that the "Aboriginal Rights of the Indian, Metis and Inuit peoples are hereby recognised and affirmed" within 15 minutes.
This Brown story is Blairite b-lls.
- Paul Lettan, Old St Pancras, London
President Obama was focusing on trade with China and revaluing the Yuan. Then ensuring Russia does not sell ground to air missles to Iran and so start a war. Behind all that was his Health Plans. If it was Gordon Brown or a cup of tea, we all know its the cup.
- Andrew, London
Of course he was snubbed. America know he's only being kept alive politically by Mandy until we are safely tucked up in Europe whereupon Mandy will string him up and gut him and rightly so. Americans DON'T like associating with losers.
- Steve, Brentford
I am sick of having america pushed down my throat morning, noon and night. Their accents make my skin crawl and their spite and ignorance are aborant abhorrent. Please, for pity's sake, someone tell me how to get my news and entertainment yank free!
- Pjw, London, GB
What special relationship??? Newspapers keep referring to this nebulous 'special relationship'. However not one gets specific about how this relationship has benefited the UK in recent times, or how the UK loses out without this relationship. France and the rest of the EU seem to do perfectly well without the honour of this special relationship!
- Sanjay, Singapore
The man is a massive embarassment to the U.K.
- Phil Jones, London UK
Of course he was. America know he's only being kept alive politically by Mandy until we are safely tucked up in Europe whereupon Mandy will string him up and gut him and rightly so. Americans DON'T like associating with losers.
- Steve, Brentford
Brown does not need the USA leader,he has his Libyan and Russian comrades.
- Dave, london
Typical of the yanks. Just because we didn't jump to their command we are being snubbed. While I agree we should not have let the Lybian bomber go free, I think the Americans should remember it was them that were payrolling the IRA to bomb Britain for 30 years. Look how many people died because of that. I too worked for an American company once and I would never want to work for one again. We were not allowed to use English terms although we were in Britain
- Pat, London
Brown may be as useless as his party,but so are the British public who will no doubt once again vote for the other party that has failed then time and time again.In ten to twelve years time,the same British public will whine again as they vote Labour back into power.Britain,a two party State.
- Dave, london
Every time I hear or see this expression "special relationship" I want to vomit. There is no "special relationship" with the U.S. other than in the minds of some journalists and politicians.
The real relationship Britain has with the U.S. is more like a master and slave. Assuming the master has any awareness of the slave at all, it certainly doesn't include any feelings for the slave as anything other than a slave. Is the slave useful, efficient, obedient and totally submissive? If not, the slave will feel the whip and the tip of the boot until the slave is back in line, and all this whilst murmuring soothing words about a "special relationship" into the slave's ear and so the status quo is maintained.
- Kate, London
I don't blame Obama for snubbing Brown after the Lockerbie fiasco. Nobody wants to be seen with Brown
anymore because everyone knows he is so unpopular
and they don't want to tarnish their image. He and
his cabinet are considered a laughing stock by many
foreign press.
- Frank, Copenhagen, Denmark
Remove all of our troops from Afganistan and see what our supposd friends over the pond have to say Churchil was snubbed by Roosevelt during WW two, he was to be our greatest prime minister George
- Mr G. J. Lester, Sutton Cambs
Obamas's a good judge, the overwhelming majority of Brits would snub him as well.
- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire
"Most Americans find the British snobby and up tight, they can't understand our accents and they think the UK is a small and rainy country."
I am not American. But you can't fault them on their observational skills. How much will the Lockerbie bomber's release cost us if the US decide not to bail us out any longer financially? Is the UK a feasible proposition without US support?
Why not close down the Houses of Parliament and give us a vote in the American system.
- Peace Maker, Battersea
Could it be that the White House just don't want to be associated with a big time bottler posing as a world statesman?
- Ted, London
If ever the expression 'one picture says a thousand words'needs proof then this photograph of Obama being nailed by our PM says it all.What ever makes Brown think that he still holds some credability after all his gaffs,fancy footwork,stupid decisions,weak leadership and a very,very un-British approach to being a 'World Statesman'.Meanwhile we feel relaxed because our PM is out of the country....for awhile.
- Tithonus, Athens Greece.
Message to Gordon:
Look at it as training. After all in May 2010 you (and your Party) are going to be snubbed by at least 58% of the UK electorate.
- Andrew, Ely UK
The US government have already decided that Brown is on the way out next year. Fact.
- William Grierson, Kimpton-UK
Downing Street in damage limitation mode again! They must be on permanent alert for the next banana skin, the poor things.
Hang in there guys, only a few more months!
- John C, Leatherhead, UK
Matt, London:
"The only common ground we have is our shared language"
And that's tenuous at best.
- Stephen, Milton Keynes
Not in living memory has there ever been such a vast gulf between the interests of the government (or the Prime Minister, to be precise) and those of the people. Britain needs Brown to go. NOW.
- Geoffrey, Hackney, London
That look on Obama's face says it all,as if he's shaking hands with a venomous snake,which of course he is!!
- General Lee'Wright, Communist Britain
I am sure Gordon did want to present himself as a global statesman. who wouldn't?
however, that he isn't one is always going to be a sticking point.
- Scotty, london
The special relationship hasn't existed for over 200 years. Doesn't anyone realise that the USA proudly declared its independence from Britain in 1776 and snubbing us has been one of their favourite pastimes ever since? I have worked with Americans. Most Americans find the British snobby and up tight, they can't understand our accents and they think the UK is a small and rainy country. The only common ground we have is our shared language.
- Matt, London UK
Ha ha ha! Snubbed by Obama; soon to be dumped by the British people: Karma.
- Philip, London, England
This would be hilarious if it wasn't our Prime Minister who is being made to look like a complete tool.
- St, London
Downing Street has less credibility than a demented hedgehog attempting to cross the M25 during rush hour.
OF COURSE President Obama pointedly blanked Gormless Brown - who wouldn't?
The sooner the paranoid control freak packs his bags and clears off to the House of Frauds, the better.
- Reuben Camara, Morecambe Compound, EUSSR
there are famines and wars going on all over the world and 98 percent caused by the interfering americans and the english politicians, why should we be too bothered about being snubbed by them? they really doing us a favour. the further england is away from america the better! have we all forgotten about the weapons of mass destruction which coinsidently never apeared? WAR MONGERS! i wonder which oil producer america is going to feel threatened by next time as if we have to ask?
- Scott, blackpool, england
Falstaff: “my King, my Jove! I speak to thee my heart”
King Henry V: "I Know thee not, old man . . .
- Mike O, bristol
Gordon and his creep show blow like the wind, I certainly don't blame Washington for keeping it's distance. I think they may be a little bit annoyed with the Lockerbie cockup. Plus the Brits want to end the "special relationship". No friends in Washington, opting out of Europe it UK is on its own - perhaps we could align ourselves to Libya and Iran!
- Patricia, London
