Liam Fox described the threat posed by Iran as the “single most important issue facing the West” and added that 2010 was the year in which the Islamic state had to be confronted.
Mr Fox said that while military action would be in “no one’s interest”, he maintained that the use of force was an option which “must remain on the table” if Iran developed nuclear weapons.
He said that under Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s regime, the “export of terrorism and instability” was part of the country’s foreign policy and warned “the era of nuclear terrorism has arrived”.
The Tory policy on Iran differs from the Government’s stated position that military action was “inconceivable”.
Defence sources said an attack on Iran would be likely to consist of a missile attack rather than an Iraq-style invasion, with nuclear and uranium enrichment sites being targeted by cruise missiles launched from submarines and aeroplanes.
Britain could play a direct role – the Royal Navy has ships and submarines equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles and could provide early warning aircraft and tankers for in-flight refuelling for other aircraft taking part in an operation.
Iran has always maintained that its nuclear enrichment programme is purely peaceful and for non-military purposes.
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