France urges Iran to return to 'reason'

French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy today urged Iran to return rapidly to “reason” as the stand-off over its nuclear program moved to the UN Security Council.

“The hand is extended. Negotiations are possible,” Douste-Blazy said on RTL radio.

“Iran must understand it has no choice. It has the right to civilian nuclear energy, it does not have the right to something else.”

Tehran’s tone was increasingly threatening yesterday as the hard-line Iranian president warned the West would suffer more than his country if it tried to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“France’s job is to move forward with firmness ... so that Iran responds quickly, returns to reason, responds to the agency,” Douste-Blazy said, referring to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

As soon as the Iran file reaches the UN Security Council, the minister said, “We must move quickly.”