LONDON: Diplomacy is not enough to stop Iran developing nuclear weapons, the head of Britain’s foreign spy service said on Thursday, urging an “intelligence-led” approach to stopping nuclear proliferation.
In an unprecedented public speech, MI6 chief John Sawers said that the intelligence activities were responsible for Iran’s admission last year of a second enrichment plant, which in turn led to tougher diplomatic pressure on the country.
“Stopping nuclear proliferation cannot be addressed purely by conventional diplomacy. We need intelligence-led operations to make it more difficult for countries like Iran to develop nuclear weapons,” he said.
Sawers’ comments come as six world powers seek to resume talks with Iran over its nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is for civilian purposes but which Western powers suspect is intended to develop atomic weapons. The UN Security Council voted for fresh sanctions against Iran in June, the fourth set since December 2006 over its nuclear programme.
“The revelations around Iran’s secret enrichment site at Qom were an intelligence success. They led to diplomatic pressure on Iran intensifying, with tougher UN and EU sanctions, which are beginning to bite,” Sawers said.
