French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner chose interesting timing to make a threat. Could he be attempting to hold off an imminent move by the US to attack Iran? That is my suspicion. By acknowledging that it may be on France's agenda to go to war with Iran, the Bush Administration might hold off in hopes of a coalition effort.
The Daily Star
Iran accused French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner on Monday of stoking a crisis after he said France must prepare for the possibility of war over Tehran's nuclear program. The official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini as saying Kouchner's remarks were not in line with European Union policy.
"Using crisis-making words is against France's high historical and cultural position and is against France's civilization," Hosseini said in a statement.
Kouchner said in an interview on Sunday that France must prepare for the possibility of war against Iran over its nuclear activities. But he said he did not believe that such action was imminent. He also told RTL radio and LCI television that the world's major powers should use further sanctions to show they were serious about stopping Tehran from getting atom bombs. The minister said France had asked French firms not to bid for work in Iran.
France followed up the warning on Monday. Prime Minister Francois Fillon said tensions with Iran are now "extreme," intensifying the diplomatic storm caused by Kouchner.
"Everything must be done to avoid war," Fillon told reporters on a visit to the town of Angouleme in western France. "France's role is to lead toward a peaceful solution of a situation that would be extremely dangerous for the rest of the world.
He said Kouchner was right to say the situation was dangerous and should be taken seriously.
Not surprising, Kouchner started a firestorm of criticism. Here is attempts to make it clear his threat was to bring the Iranians and presumably the US back to the table.
IOL
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner tried to distance himself from statements he had made that the Iranian nuclear crisis could lead to war by saying that he was in favour of a negotiated settlement, the daily Le Monde reported on Tuesday.
"I do not want it said that I'm a warmonger. My message was one of peace, serious and determined," Kouchner said on the aircraft taking him to Moscow.
He was reacting to a storm of criticism he had unleashed by saying late Sunday, in regard to Iran's nuclear program, "It is necessary to prepare for the worst," and added, "The worst, sir, is war."
Israel adds it's voice and differs with a more hurried tone, noting they see time as not on their side.
IOL
Israel called on Thursday for a toughening of sanctions on its arch-foe Iran and urged private companies around the world to stop doing business with the Islamic republic.
The statements came as mystery continued to shroud an apparent Israeli air strike a week ago inside another foe, Syria, which reports say was aimed at weapons financed by Tehran.
"The sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council are not sufficient," Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni told public radio. "They have to be toughened and made more efficient by involving the private sector."
"The private sector should stop doing business with Iran, even if this goes against its interests, as the world cannot accept a country like Iran getting access to nuclear arms."
"Time is playing against us, the world cannot allow itself to wait," she said.
Israel, widely considered to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear power, fears that Iran is developing atomic weapons under the guise of its civilian nuclear programme, a charge Tehran vehemently denies.
Ahmadinejad said in an interview with British television on Wednesday that Iran did not want the bomb. "We are against bombs, actually," he said through a translator. "From a political point of view, it's not useful... Why do we want a bomb?... What's the use of it? We don't need it."
Yet, I've not seen any US headlines or heard CBS network news reporting on this very significant event. Are we seeing a news black out in the US?
Update: Reuters
China also condemned Kouchner's weekend remarks. "We believe the best option is to peacefully resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations, which is in the common interests of the international community," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a briefing. "We do not approve of easily resorting to threatening use of force in international affairs," Jiang said.
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