‘We hope that there will be no confrontation or war with Iran and that a peaceful solution will be worked out for the problem,’ Kouchner said at a press conference.
He was responding to a question whether he believed the United States and other Western powers would eventually resort to force to prevent Iran from developing its nuclear know-how.
‘We don’t believe that Iran should be prevented from obtaining nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and for replacing oil when it depletes one day,’ he said.
‘However, we are not convinced that Iran is seeking civic usage only from its nuclear programme,’ the French minister said, alluding to possible Iranian plans to produce nuclear weapons in the long term.
He said that France and other EU states ‘were determined to force Iran to show due respect to the UN resolutions and the non- proliferation of nuclear arms treaty’.
‘We are continuing with our diplomatic efforts and do talk to the Iranians to advise them to do what they should do,’ he added.
