LONDON, May 8: British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Monday ruled out an invasion of Iran and said any suggestion of a nuclear strike on the country was ‘absolutely absurd’. Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council over fears it is building nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies. Washington says it would prefer a diplomatic solution to the crisis but warns sanctions and military strikes are options.

“I don’t know anybody who has even talked or contemplated the prospect of a nuclear strike on Iran. That would be absolutely absurd,” Mr Blair told a regular monthly news conference.

There has been widespread media speculation that differences over how to deal with Iran’s nuclear programmeme were behind Mr Blair’s decision to axe Foreign Minister Jack Straw last week in a major government reshuffle.

Mr Blair replaced Mr Straw with former Environment Minister Margaret Beckett.

“The idea I moved Jack because of Iran ... because the Americans objected to him ... (is) rubbish,” Mr Blair said.—Reuters