Chirac plans mission to Teheran

Daily Telegraph: Jacques Chirac wants to launch a unilateral mission to try to convince Iran to resolve the crisis in Lebanon, it has emerged. The Daily Telegraph

By Peter Allen

Jacques Chirac wants to launch a unilateral mission to try to convince Iran to resolve the crisis in Lebanon, it has emerged.

It follows a number of years during which the French president has been fiercely critical of the over-riding influence of American foreign policy.

Mr Chirac wants to send a “high level emissary” to Teheran to discuss bringing stability to Lebanon following the Israeli invasion last year.

advertisementHe originally chose his foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy for the mission earlier this month, but it was cancelled two days before he was due to leave. It was felt that it would fail.

When he learned about the plan, Stephen Hadley, the American national security adviser, protested to the French. But a French foreign ministry spokesman admitted yesterday that it was still considering sending an envoy to Teheran.