A Sunday Telegraph report claimed that British Prime Minister Tony Blair softened several positions in a major foreign policy address at Georgetown University after pressure from US officials. According to the newspaper, citing unnamed British sources, Blair's prepared remarks were adjusted on Iran, global warming, and international financial institutions before he took the stage.
On Iran, aides had originally planned language stressing that outside powers should not force political change on the country. The final speech left the question of military action more open, in line with Washington's preference to keep that option visible as leverage against Tehran.
Blair also pulled back from an anticipated push on climate change and the Kyoto Treaty, which the United States has not signed, offering only a general call to act on the issue. A planned proposal to end the tradition of Europeans and Americans exclusively selecting the heads of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund was similarly reduced to a vague reference to reform.
A Downing Street spokesman flatly rejected the account, saying US objections played no part in shaping the speech. Blair himself drew audience laughter during the address when a ringing mobile phone prompted him to joke about rapid White House intervention.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in May 2006, in its own words.