Agence France-Presse,
TEHRAN: Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki warned France on Sunday over what he labelled its “illogical” position after Paris urged tough action against Tehran's nuclear programme.
“The Islamic republic of Iran will legally confront the illogical stances and words of some French officials,” Mottaki was quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency, although he did not elaborate on what action it would take.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner angered Tehran last month when he said the world had to prepare for war over Iran's atomic drive, and has been pushing fellow European states to adopt their own sanctions on Tehran.
Mottaki criticised Paris for providing the Iran's archfoe the United States — which accuses Tehran of secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons — of “opportunities to gain political advantage”.
“France cannot continue this policy in the future and its interests are definitely not in line with the political objectives of America,” Mottaki said.
Iran denies it is trying to build the bomb, saying that its nuclear programme is aimed at generating fuel for its growing population.
Last week, Kouchner proposed that in parallel to UN Security Council sanctions against Iran, the Europeans should consider their own additional measures, although he has since denied France was toughening its stance.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini was quoted as saying by state television that Mottaki planned to respond to Kouchner's comments in a letter to his EU counterparts.
World powers agreed last month to wait for reports due in November from the International Atomic Energy Agency and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana before deciding whether to submit a new sanctions resolution to the UN Security Council.
