Chirac talks tough to Iran on nuclear impasse
French President Jacques Chirac called on Iran yesterday to cooperate in nuclear talks or risk having the issue sent to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.
“We call on Iran’s spirit of responsibility to re-establish cooperation and confidence, without which the (UN) Security Council will have no choice but to take up the question,” Chirac told France’s ambassadors brought home for an annual conference.
Chirac implored Tehran to “truly examine” an offer made by France, Britain and Germany, which have held talks with Iran on behalf of the 25-member European Union.
Iran rejected a European proposal to give up its uranium enrichment program in return for economic, political and security incentives.
Chirac’s comments are the toughest from the French president since the European proposal was presented to Iran earlier this month, though in July he said, “the question should be taken to the Security Council” if Tehran resumed enrichment activities.
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy has repeatedly warned Iran it could face sanctions.
The three countries called off planned talks set for August 31 after Iran renewed its conversion of uranium to gas at a plant in Isfahan, a process that precedes enrichment. By doing so, Tehran effectively broke an accord agreed to in Paris last November to suspend nuclear activities and hold talks.
Yesterday, Tehran said it wanted talks with the UN’s international nuclear watchdog agency, rejecting what it called Europe’s “conditional negotiations.” Iran has said it still wants talks but also wants them expanded to include other countries.
Diplomats familiar with the UN International Atomic Energy Agency’s proceedings have said that Iran would have until September 3 to halt its Isfahan activities or risk referral to the UN Security Council, which could levy sanctions.
“There is room for dialogue and negotiations,” Chirac insisted.
The French president reiterated that Europe seeks ”objective guarantees, of the civilian character” of Iran’s nuclear program, noting that in the past the program was “clandestine” and suggesting that left room for doubt about Tehran’s real intent.
“The recourse to fully legitimate civilian nuclear energy must not serve as a pretext to the pursuit of activities whose real end result could be constituting a military nuclear arsenal,” Chirac said, adding that guarantees must therefore be put forth about the peaceful nature of such a project.
The Iranians insist their nuclear program was designed solely to generate electricity, but the US suspects Tehran is intent on making a nuclear bomb.
