British arms expert urges West to rethink Iran strategy

Berlin, June 18, IRNA - A Swedish-based British weapons expert called on Western countries to rethink their strategy towards Iran's nuclear program.

Ian Anthony who heads the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Program at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said in an interview with IRNA in Berlin, "The strategy pursued so far has not produced the desired results. And really now, it is time to take a step back and think what we are doing."

"I think, we are at point where we need to take stock of what it is we are achieving with the present strategy," he reiterated.

Anthony stressed that the current Western sanction policy vis-a-vis Tehran" demonstrated a lack of creativity."

Asked as to why the West was continuing its Iran sanctions strategy, the expert replied, "To a certain extent it is because of an absence of alternatives. The alternatives might have domestic political costs or they might be difficult to sustain in terms of international support."

Anthony said the Turkish-Brazilian initiative could still play a role in overcoming the impasse over Iran's nuclear policy despite Western scepticism over the Tehran deal.

"I hope, we have not come to a situation where this deal is off the table because it seems to me, it is an opportunity for a partial rethink of the way we are dealing with this," he said.

Anthony emphasized that dealing with Western concerns over Iran's nuclear program should not be based on of what he termed a "policy of coercion" but on a "genuine dialogue" between the West and Iran.

"We do need to have a genuine dialogue between the main partners and I think that does have to include the US. Not through intermediaries, not unofficial contacts but we need to have some direct talking between the most interested parties about finding a way forward," Anthony said./end