British expert says EU sanctions doomed to fail

In an interview with IRNA's correspondent in London, Ms. Ridley commented on EU's new sanctions on Iran. The following is the full text of the interview.

IRNA: Do you think these new sanctions could force Iran to change its policy and surrender to the Western demands? Given the fact that Iran has been targeted by different kinds of sanctions and pressure since 1979.

Ridley: Iran will not react in the way the West expects and the western countries, having been down similar routes before with Iraq, are showing a lack of imagination, a lack of willingness to sit down and talk with Iran. Without meaningful dialogue the Western countries, led by the USA and UK, are boxing themselves into a corner.

IRNA: While Iran is a member of IAEA and signatory to the NPT, and international inspectors visit country’s nuclear sites regularly, what more it could or should do in so-called confidence building process?

Ridley:Unless the west reveals any incriminating evidence it says it has, there is nothing to dispute Iran is producing nuclear weapons or has ambitions to produce nuclear weapons. Unlike others in the region - Israel to name but one - it has signed up to the NPT Treaty.

IRNA: Imposing sanctions on oil, finance, airlines, shipping, science and technology and..., which has mostly been affecting ordinary people, can be justified under international law and on humanitarian grounds?

Ridley: America and Britain continually fail to look into history to see the spectacular failure of these sorts of sanctions which do nothing more than to affect ordinary people and increase levels of hatred ordinary people are beginning to develop towards the UK and USA.

IRNA: In your views, what is the best thing for Iran to do against this old fashion sanction campaign and recently terror campaign (killing the Iranian scientists)?

Ridley: I think Iran should invite the Western media, hostile and otherwise, in to Tehran and brief them instead of inspectors or western representatives. Clearly the USA and UK have no intention of engaging positively with Tehran so do it through the BBC, CNN, ITN, European news agencies and hold a press conference.

Issue 24-48 hour visas - take them to one of the nuclear facilities to talk to scientists, and then back to hotel for a press conference.

Because of anti-western sentiment I imagine the journalists would have to be closely supervised for their own safety and there would be security issues but if the politicians won't engage then engage them through the media.

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