Brown: Iran must stop nuclear program

JERUSALEM, July 21 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Gordon Brown told Israelis Monday that Iran faces new sanctions if it fails to abandon its nuclear program and threatening Israel.

In an address to Israel's parliament, Brown said his country is ready to take the lead in imposing additional sanctions and will ask the international community to follow suit, The Jerusalem Post reports.

"Iran has a clear choice to make: Suspend its nuclear weapons program and accept our offer of negotiations or face growing isolation and the collective response, not just of one nation, but of all nations around the world," Brown said.

The British prime minister called "totally abhorrent" Iran's stated desire to wipe Israel off the map.

"The people of Israel have a right to live here, to live freely and to live in security," he said.

Brown's address to the Knesset was the first by an acting British prime minister.