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		Government's confusion on Iran is weakening the West's response 15th February 2006 Conflicting messages from the UK prime minister and foreign secretary on Iran are threatening to undermine the growing international consensus against the rogue state, Charles Tannock MEP said today as the European Parliament looked set to throw its weight behind measures to step up the pressure on the Ahmedinejad regime. Dr Tannock said military action against Iran should not be ruled out if the Islamic state presses ahead with the construction of nuclear weapons. He said that to limit the West's options in response to the threat could potentially be catastrophic, especially given the Iranian president's stated belief that Israel should be 'wiped off the map'. MEPs today debated a hard-hitting resolution supporting moves to report Iran to the UN Security Council for its continued defiance of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The resolution is expected to be approved tomorrow. Dr Tannock said: "Tony Blair wants all options left open but Jack Straw says military action is out of the question. These mixed messages are weakening the international consensus against Iran. "No-one wants to see another war in the Middle East but limiting our options at a time when Iran is hell-bent on making an atomic bomb is crazy. "Iran's president thinks Israel should be wiped off the map. We should not allow him to acquire the means to make good on that threat. "Iran's brinkmanship is a test to the West. This dispute should be sorted out diplomatically. But appeasing Iran will bring us no end of trouble in the future. "Frederick the Great's maxim is as true today as it ever was - diplomacy without force is like music without instruments."