Ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the issue, French President Nicolas Sarkozy accused Iran of trying to obtain a nuclear bomb and said he supported "stronger sanctions" to prevent that from happening.
"Iran is trying to obtain an atomic bomb," Sarkozy said in a prime-time television interview late Thursday, Sept. 20. "That is unacceptable and I tell the French people it is unacceptable."
The five UN Security Council permanent members and Germany are meeting in Washington, DC, on Friday to discuss Iran. US President George W. Bush has escalated rhetoric over Iran in recent weeks.
Ahead of the meeting, Bush insisted that "the objective, of course, is to solve this peacefully."
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner will go to the White House to discuss the issue on Friday. Kouchner recently warned that a war with Iran was possible, but has since insisted the statement was misunderstood.
Stronger sanctions necessary
While Sarkozy distanced himself from the threat of going to war with Iran, he emphasized the need for diplomatic sanctions.
The Iranian nuclear question "is an extremely difficult affair, but France does not want a war," Sarkozy said.
At their Friday meeting, Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States plan to discuss a third package of tighter UN sanctions against Iran if it does not suspend its uranium enrichment.
"How do we convince Iran to renounce this project?" Sarkozy asked. "Just as the international community convinced North Korea and Libya to renounce theirs: through discussion, through dialogue, through sanctions.
"If sanctions are not enough, I want stronger sanctions," Sarkozy added.
Leaders hope for a peaceful solution
Since Sarkozy's election in May, France has taken an increasingly strong stand in the dispute over Iran's nuclear program, which many countries fear is an effort to build an atomic bomb. Sarkozy said he believes Iran has a right to civilian nuclear technology.
Bush said he's hopeful that Iran can be convinced to peacefully give up its ambitions to develop a weapons program.
"It's imperative that we continue to work in a multilateral fashion to send that message," Bush said. "And one place to do so is at the United Nations."
The UN Security Council has adopted sanctions against Iran which include calling on countries to stop supplying Iran with nuclear-related technology and freezing assets of many people and groups related to the nuclear program. Iranian arms exports have also been banned.
The Iranian regime insists it is developing the technology to provide electricity and since sanctions started has increased its enrichment activities.
Sarkozy wants European sanctions
A senior US official told the Associated Press news agency that the proposed new sanctions would require countries to inspect all cargo en route to or from Iran as well as freeze assets of a number of Iranian banks. The official was interviewed this summer on condition of anonymity because the negotiations were still underway.
France wants the European Union to also adopt sanctions against Iran if the UN Security Council does not pass new measures. Russia and China have been unwilling to take strong action.
French presidential spokesman David Martinon suggested that the measures could include "recommendations" to European companies asking them "at the very least not to bid for new markets in Iran, and for financial institutions to scale back their operations, to lower their investments."
"We would like to obtain that from all European Union countries, and we are not alone in wanting to do so," Martinon said.
Next week, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will travel to New York to address the UN General Assembly. The visit has sparked controversy in the US as the Iranian leader is considered by Washington to be an ally to Islamic militants and Iraqi insurgents. Ahmadinejad had asked to tour Ground Zero, the site of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, but was denied permission.
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