Iran - nuclear programme

France dubs Iranian nuclear plan childish

Article published on the 2009-11-30 Latest update 2009-11-30 13:27 TU

Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani speaks to journalists on Monday
(Photo: Reuters)

French ministers have slammed Iran's declaration Sunday that it will build ten new uranium processing plants. Foreign Affairs Minister Bernard Kouchner told RTL radio that the declaration is a "rather childish response" to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The Iranians are "making fools of themselves", Kouchner told RTL.

"Why announce ten new enrichment sites when Iran doesn't have a single nuclear power station to use the fuel?" he asked in an interview with Le Figaro.

The declaration means that there will probably be new international sanctions against Tehran, France's Defence Minister Hervé Morin told France Inter radio.

It is "obvious" that the uranium enrichment programme is for military ends, he declared.

Iranian Parliament Speaker, Ali Larijani, on Monday insisted that the programme is peaceful. He appeared to soften his tone compared to Sunday's angry reaction to the IAEA's condemnation of plans to build a second reactor at Qom.

"I still think there is a diplomatic opportunity and it is beneficial to them [world powers] to use this, so that Iran continues its work under the framework of the agency and international supervision," he said, the day after MPs slammed the UN watchdog's resolution.

Larijani was the first top official to criticise the IAEA on Sunday.

Despite his change of register Monday, Larijani questioned the importance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, adding that "if there are political tricks and cheating, then Iran will definitely change its approach".