Britain to push for tough sanctions on Iran if talks fail

Britain will seek a global ban on investment in Iran's oil, gas and financial sectors unless Tehran agrees to abandon its uranium enrichment activities, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Monday.
Brown described the Islamic republic as "the greatest immediate challenge to non-proliferation" and again said it had a choice between complying with the international community or being ostracised.
"We will lead in seeking tougher sanctions both at the UN and in the European Union, including on oil and gas investment and the financial sectors," he said in a speech at the Lord Mayor of London's annual banquet.
"Iran should be in no doubt about our seriousness of purpose."
Brown said further sanctions were conditional on the conclusion of two reports by Europe's foreign policy chief Javier Solana and the UN atomic watchdog, both of which are due out later this month.
In addition, Brown threw his weight behind calls for a nuclear fuel "bank" to aid non-nuclear states in gaining access to new sources of energy, provided they renounce nuclear weapons and meeting international treaties.