French FM says military attack on Iran highly undesirable

PanARMENIAN.Net - French Foreign Minister Alain Juppe said on Sunday, Nov 6 that sanctions against Iran should be toughened and that "everything must be done" to avoid a military conflict over Tehran's nuclear programme.

"We have imposed sanctions that continue to expand, we can toughen them to put pressure on Iran," Juppe told Europe 1 radio.

"We will continue on this path because a military intervention could create a situation that completely destabilizes the region," he said. "Everything must be done to avoid the irreversible," he said.

Juppe also said he expected a report by the UN's nuclear watchdog due in the next few days to confirm Iran was seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

"Iran is acting badly. We are convinced that the next report from the International Atomic Energy Agency will likely indicate that its nuclear programme is military, therefore that it is preparing to have a bomb," he said.

"This is not acceptable, it is in violation of international treaties and it is a threat destabilising the entire region and beyond."

Israeli President Shimon Peres warned on Sunday that an attack on Iran was becoming increasingly likely, as speculation in Israel has grown about the possibility of a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities.

Media reports have suggested no final decision has been taken and that a report by the IAEA on November 8 or 9 would have a "decisive effect" on decision-making, according to AFP.