British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday attacked Iran as the source of instability in Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Ahead of his tour in the Middle East, the British leader said Tehran was a "major strategic threat to the cohesion of the entire region."
In a press conference, Blair said the Iranian regime was supporting "terrorist extremism" among Shites in Iraq, Hizbullah in Lebanon and Hamas in Palestine.
Blair is expected to travel soon to the region for talks with Palestinian president Mahmood Abbas on his efforts to form a unity government with Hamas. He claimed there had been "no more important time" for the Middle East than at the moment and "nothing more important for the international community".
Blair said Iran was also deliberately stoking controversy by denying the holocaust and stepping up threats against the existence of Israel. "I found this conference they had questioning the holocaust, shocking beyond belief. What further evidence do you need to have that this regime is extreme?" he asked.
"The real problem about Iran is this. The trouble is that I look round the region at the moment and maybe I feel too strongly about this... but it is such a symbol of sectarianism and hatred that it is almost unbelievable in a way."
