British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for a worldwide ban on foreign investment in Iran’s oil and gas industry and other financial sanctions unless Iran abandons its nuclear program. Brown’s comments came in one of his first major foreign policy addresses since becoming prime minister.

Gordon Brown: “Iran has a choice: confrontation with the international community leading to a tightening of sanctions or, if it changes its approach and ends support for terrorism, a transformed relationship with the world. Unless positive outcomes flow from Javier Solana’s report and the IAEA, we will lead in seeking tougher sanctions, both at the U.N. and the Europe Union, including on oil and gas investment and the financial sector. And Iran should be in no doubt about the seriousness of our purpose.”

Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has also called for tougher action against Iran.

Angela Merkel: “As far as Iran is concerned there are, as I see it, there is a high level of agreement. On the one hand, we have the joint position that in the framework of the U.N., if Iran does not change its behavior, then we must consider further sanctions.”