Speaking at the fifth annual President’s Conference in Jerusalem, Quartet Representative Tony Blair ran through multiple scenarios under which Iran could be pressured economically and militarily, with varying degrees of success, regarding the opacity of its nuclear program. The former British Prime Minister declared that, of all the scenarios, an Iran that had successfully acquired nuclear weapons was literally the worst:

Fourth, progress cannot come without stability or stability without security. We have to be prepared to be strong in defence of our values. It is why Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions and export of terrorism round the region are a threat. We must be determined to confront and overcome that threat. Those that truly hold the power in Tehran must know of our determination and feel its vigour. Of course any choice involving military action is fraught. No one wants it. But a nuclear armed Iran is the worst choice and we shouldn’t make it.

In his address, Blair also advocated Western intervention in Syria and promoted the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Blair made a similar argument two years ago.

[Photo: World Economic Forum / Flickr]