9.5 |
June 2006 to 27 June 2007
meant that
undertaking major new infrastructure projects had become
impossible.
The ISG
agreed that this was:
“… an
entirely sound approach, but noted the large gap between what we
planned
to offer
and Iraqi expectations. This would need careful
management.”
114.
Mr Blair’s
Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs told Mr Blair on 27 July
that the
US would be
deploying an additional 3,500 troops to Baghdad, to help deal
with
the
deteriorating security situation.75
An
additional 4,500 Iraqi troops would also be
deployed.
The Private Secretary observed: “We face a similar battle in Basra,
of course.”
115.
Mr Blair
visited Washington on 28 July for talks with President
Bush.76
116.
In discussion,
Mr Blair said that he had given a very strong message to the
Iraqi
Government
on the need to deal with militias. He welcomed a planned US
strategy for
engagement
with the Shia community and observed that it was an “obvious
problem”
that Sunni
outreach would give rise to problems with the Shia.
117.
On 30 July,
Gen Casey gave approval for the UK’s re‑posturing plans in
Maysan.77
In his
State of the Union speech of January 2002, President Bush had
described Iran as
one member
of the “axis of evil”.78
In June
2003, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
concluded
that Iran
had failed to meet obligations under the Agreement between Iran and
the IAEA
for the
Application of Safeguards in connection with the Treaty on the
Non‑Proliferation of
After
several suspensions of enrichment‑relates activities and
unsuccessful negotiations
for a
permanent solution, in April 2006 Iran announced that it had
enriched uranium for the
On 31 July,
resolution 1696 (2006) was adopted by the Security Council, the
first of five
over the
2006‑2008 period.81
It imposed
sanctions on Iran because of its continuing
enrichment
programme and failure to co‑operate fully with the
IAEA.
75
Minute
Phillipson to Prime Minister, 27 July 2006, ‘Visit to Washington,
28 July’.
76
Letter
Phillipson to Hayes, 28 July 2006, ‘Prime Minister’s talks with
President Bush, 28 July: Middle
East issues
and Afghanistan’.
77
Minute
Shirreff, 3 August 2006, ‘GOC MND(SE) – Southern Iraq Update – 3
August 2006’.
78
The
Washington Post, 29
January 2002, Text of
President Bush’s 2002 State of the Union Address.
79
IAEA, 6
June 2003, Implementation
of the NPT safeguards agreement in the Islamic Republic of
Iran
(GOV/2003/40)9.
80 Arms
Control Association, January 2016, Timeline of
Nuclear Diplomacy with Iran.
81
UN Security
Council Resolution 1696 (2006).
23