FORMER U.K. PRIME MINISTER SIR TONY Blair described Iran as the "origin of the instability in the Middle East" in a wide-ranging interview with Newsweek.
Blair, whose decision to use British armed forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq-as well as his perceived closeness to President George W. Bushattracted criticism at home and abroad, said that the key to stability in the region was to ensure religious tolerance prevailed over Islamism.
He blamed Iran for attempting to export its revolution through proxies such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, both of which have been heavily targeted by Israel since the attacks of October 7, 2023, the bloodiest massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust.
Blair, who is now Roman Catholic, became leader of the British Labour Party in 1994 and was prime by minister from 1997 to 2007. As well as encompassing the Iraq War, over which he was accused of misleading the U.K. Parliament, his time in office included passing the Good Friday Agreement, a landmark in the Northern Ireland peace process, and humanitarian interventions in Sierra Leone and Kosovo.
After leaving office, he was special envoy of the Quartet on the Middle East-an organization to mediate the Israeli-Palestinian peace process comprising the United Nations, the United States, the European Union and Russia-until 2015. He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bush in 2009.
In 2016, he founded the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, a nonprofit organization to fight what he described as the growth of authoritarian populism across the world. His latest book, On Leadership: Lessons for the 21st Century, is a manual for today's leaders based on his experiences in politics.
Newsweek Global Editor in Chief Nancy Cooper, VP of Digital Publishing Christopher Roberts and Content Director Barney Henderson spoke with him in London. This interview has been edited for space and clarity.
This story is from the November 01, 2024 edition of Newsweek US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 01, 2024 edition of Newsweek US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Ray Romano
\"I read about three scripts, and at the end of each there was a little twist, a little turn, [and] it was funny.\"
Has J.K. Rowling Won the Culture War?
After years of backlash over trans issues, the Harry Potter author has received major business backing
Nothin' Lasts Forever
Taylor Swift's Eras Tour' ends its record-breaking run..
SPY IN THE SKY
CHINA FACES ACCUSATIONS of ESPIONAGE and WEAPONIZING OUTER SPACE as it BUILDS a NEW OBSERVATORY in CHILE critics say WILL BE USED for MILITARY PURPOSES
'This Murder Is a Symbol of the Times'
Conservatives and liberals agree on the state of the health care industry following the killing of Brian Thompson
The Defense Industry's Fight With ESG
EUROPEAN DEFENSE COMPANIES, ESPECIALLY smaller businesses, are being blocked from investment they sorely need by sustainability rules, a senior NATO official and several industry figures have said.
Margo Martindale
Jamie Lee [Curtis, producer] called me and she says, \"Jamie Lee Curtis here. I have a project for you. And you're gonna do it.\"
Malala Yousafzai
\"AFGHANISTAN IS THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE world where girls are banned from access to education and women are limited from work.\"
In the Eyes of the Law
Jude Law is unrecognizable as an FBI agent on the trail of aneo-Naziterrorist group in real-crime drama The Order
Gonzo Intelligence
Instead of keeping a low profile, Moscow's spies are embracing the limelight and even being welcomed home by Vladimir Putin after their cover is blown
