Corfu, Greece - UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed reluctance on Saturday for new sanctions against Iran in the wake of violence following elections. "We should leave no room for excuse. The debate taking place in Iran is in reality a debate between Iran and the West," said Miliband on the sidelines of a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council and Organization for Security and Co-operation, which is currently taking place on the Greek island of Corfu.
He said sanctions were not an option that should be sought by the European Union.
"The debate with Iran should continue ... we all have a clear position and that is for the Iranian people to choose their government and for the Iranian government to protect their own people against violence."
Agreeing with Miliband, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said there should be other options if sanctions are not applied against Iran.
Many of the 28 foreign ministers gathering on Corfu for the NATO- Russia Council meeting will stay through Sunday for an informal European Union review of ties with Iran over its post-election crackdown on opposition protesters.
Iranian authorities have rejected a call for annulment of the vote by reformist former prime minister Mirhossein Mousavi, who led mass protests after he was declared a distant second behind President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad after an election poll two weeks ago.
