The Blair interview: War with Iran and support for Cameron
By Ian Dunt
Tony Blair has used his first broadcast interview since he left office to say the West should prepare for war with Iran and offer support to David Cameron.
The pre-recorded interview with Andrew Marr, which was shown on BBC 2 tonight, saw Mr Blair expand on his theory that September 11th was a game-changing moment in relation to Iran’s alleged attempts to build a nuclear weapon.
“I believed strongly then and now – you don’t take a risk on this issue anymore,” Mr Blair said.
“And that’s the reason why, for example on Iran today I am in exactly the same position. I would never, not on my watch if I had anything to do with it, allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons capability.
“I am saying that I think it is wholly unacceptable for Iran to have nuclear weapons capability. And I think we’ve got to be prepared to confront them, if necessarily militarily[sic].”
Mr Blair then went on to insist he did not want to “cause trouble” for the present prime minister.
“I don’t want to cause trouble for David Cameron, actually,” he said.
“Because it’s – I know what it’s like to do that job and it’s really difficult.
“I mean, obviously I’ll go out and help the Labour party and so on. But popping up and saying ‘oh, he’s not doing this right, not doing that right’.”
The comment will add fuel to Tory claims that Mr Blair essentially backs the coalition government’s agenda. The final chapter of Mr Blair’s memoirs, which was published this morning, detailed his views on current political issues, few of which fall outside of the coalition government’s agenda.
Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Blair insisted Gordon Brown could have won the 2010 general election if he had stuck with New Labour tactics.
“I actually think, as a political leader today, if the public thinks your heart’s in the right place, and you’re committed and determined – and he was all of those things – then I think he, yes, he could have won,” Mr Blair said.
