France calls for unprecedented sanctions against Iran

Paris, Nov 9: France Wednesday called for ‘sanctions of unprecedented proportions’ against Iran after the release of an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on the country’s nuclear programme, Xinhua reported.

The IAEA report ‘reinforced the deep concern of France with regard to Iran’s nuclear program,’ according to a statement released by the French Foreign Ministry on behalf of Foreign Minister Alain Juppe.

The statement noted that Iran ‘has sought and very likely continues in seeking to develop atomic weapons under cover of an allegedly peaceful civilian program’.

‘The elements of the IAEA report on the activities of militarisation, combined with the accumulation of uranium enrichment and further intensive ballistic tests, form a picture that leaves little room for doubt about Iran’s intentions,’ the minister stated.

‘If Iran refuses to comply with the demands of the international community and refuses any serious cooperation, we stand ready to adopt, with all countries that follow, the sanctions of unprecedented magnitude,’ the minister added.

On Tuesday, the IAEA, in its latest report on Iran’s nuclear programme, said that ‘credible’ evidence showed Iran has engaged in projects and experiments relevant to the development of nuclear weapons.

Iran has long insisted that its nuclear activities are solely for peaceful purposes such as meeting the ever-growing energy needs.

Teheran completely rejected the report and insisted that Iran had no nuclear weapon programme. It criticised that the IAEA report was ‘unbalanced, unprofessional and politically motivated.’

IANS