Iran on Monday condemned French Foreign Minister Bernard
Kouchner's warning that the world should brace for a possible war
over the Iranian crisis, the official IRNA news agency
reported.
"Kouchner's claims are not only in contradiction with EU's macro
policies on the Islamic Republic of Iran but are also aimed at
questioning credibility and competency of the International Atomic
Energy Agency," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini
said.
Hosseini added that using "convulsive words" is contrary to the
historical, cultural and civilizational dignity and position of
France.
"Alignment of such words with the futile strategies of the US
officials indicates the influence of others' unrealistic
insinuations and false information and it would not serve interests
of France," Hosseini said.
In an interview on the French television station LCI late on
Sunday, Kouchner said: "We must prepare for the worst ... (and) the
worst is war."
The US has been seeking to impose tougher sanctions on Iran
through the UN Security Council on the grounds that Tehran is
developing a nuclear weapon program under the guise of a
civilian-use program.
Iran has insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful
purposes and voiced hope for talks to defuse the nuclear
standoff.
The US has never ruled out military action against Iranian
targets for Tehran's suspicious nuclear programs.
(Xinhua News Agency September 18, 2007)
