Nuclear Iran is world's biggest threat: Obama advisor

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Democratic White House contender Barack Obama thinks a nuclear-armed Iran is the world's biggest threat and that Europe should adopt tougher sanctions against Tehran, a top aide of his told the Financial Times of London.

"The most dangerous crisis we are going to face potentially in the next three to 10 years is if the Iranians get on the edge of developing a nuclear weapon," Obama's senior foreign policy adviser Anthony Lake said in an interview published Monday.

"If I were the Europeans I would much rather put on the table more sanctions, together with bigger carrots, and have that negotiation than I would face that crisis down the road," he added, suggesting Obama's tack should he be elected in November.

European Union nations last week agreed new sanctions over Tehran's nuclear programme, notably banning the country's largest bank, Bank Melli, from operating ...