UK-Iran Nuclear
The Church of Scotland says the British government is guilty of "gross hypocrisy" by renewing the country's Trident nuclear weapons system while pressing Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment.

"This failure to address their own plans for nuclear weapons expansion means that the UK and US governments are in a weak position to deal with Iran," the church warned.

A report to be presented to the church's General Assembly later this month appeals to the British Government to make its opposition to the possible development of Iranian nuclear weapons "credible" by scrapping the nuclear weapons held by the UK.

It identifies the renewal of Britain's Trident weapons system as being a breach of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), as well as an act of "gross hypocrisy."
The report from the Church and Society Council also warns against a simplistic approach to Iran and viewing it merely as an "evil country with dangerous ambitions."
It appeals to the UK government to do "all in its power" to end threats of military adventurism against Iran, saying solutions could prove worse than the original problem in terms of regional instability and loss of life in the Middle East.

The Church and Society, which is one of the church's six policy- making councils, said its interest in Iran is from its role as a key player in such regional political issues as the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians and the future of both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The annual General Assembly, equivalent to the church's parliament, is being held from May 15 to May 21.

It has consistently opposed the proliferation of nuclear weapons and repeatedly called on world powers to disarm their arsenals.