"I don't know anybody who has even talked about or contemplated the prospect of a nuclear strike on Iran. That would be absolutely absurd," Blair comments were made at his first regular monthly news conference after his ruling Labor Party was dealt a significant blow in England's local elections last week.

Blair also dismissed as "rubbish" the reports that he had sacked Jack Straw as foreign secretary over differences with the United States about Iran.

It had been suggested that differences over how to deal with Iran's nuclear program were behind Blair's decision to replace Straw with the former Environment Minister Margaret Beckett last week in a major government reshuffle after the local elections, and Straw's demotion was a consequence of him ruling out military action against Iran, according to reports.

"The idea I moved Jack because of Iran ... because the Americans objected to him ... (is) rubbish," Blair said.

"Any notion that it is linked to a decision about invading Iran-- which incidentally we are not going to do -- any notion that it is linked to such a decision is utterly absurd," he added.

"I chose Margaret because she is an outstanding politician and a very, very safe pair of hands," said Blair, adding "I have absolutely no doubt that the foreign policy that was articulated by Jack will not change one iota under Margaret."