No plan for Iran military strike, says UK's Beckett

LONDON, May 9 (Reuters) Britain's new Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said today no-one in the international community intended to take military action against Iran, but refused to describe such a prospect as ''inconceivable''.

''It's not anybody's intention to take the course of military action,'' Beckett, who is just four days into her new job, told BBC radio.

Iran has been referred to the UN Security Council over fears it is building nuclear arms, a charge Iran denies.

Washington says it would prefer a diplomatic solution to the crisis but does not rule out military options.

Beckett was speaking after a meeting of foreign ministers of major powers in New York aimed at finding a joint strategy for dealing with Iran. The ministers failed to reach agreement, but Beckett said there had been no discussion of military action.

''It's not the intention, it's not anybody's intention to take the course of military action. That ... is simple and straightforward and clear,'' she said.

''Everybody believes Iran should and must move into compliance with the recommendations and requirements of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) board. Everybody wants to a find way to achieve that.'' Beckett's comments echoed Prime Minister Tony Blair, who has ruled out an invasion of Iran, and yesterday said any suggestion of a nuclear strike on the country was ''absolutely absurd''.

British media have speculated that Blair sacked Beckett's predecessor as foreign minister, Jack Straw, last week because of his perceived dovish attitude toward Iran.

Asked whether she would believed a military strike on Iran was inconceivable -- a word used repeatedly by Straw -- Beckett said she would express it in another way: ''No-one has the intention to take military action,'' she said.

Blair has said Britain's foreign policy under Beckett, who has earned an international profile in climate change talks, will not change ''one iota'' from the direction pursued by Straw.

REUTERS DKS RK1400