The Associated Press, December 4 – French presidential candidate Segolene Royal said Monday she would press the international community to ban Iran’s access to nuclear power if she is elected next spring.
The Socialist’s stance on Iran is tougher than France’s position. Paris wants to punish Teheran for failing to halt uranium enrichment ââ¬â which can produce material for atomic warheads as well as energy ââ¬â but it says that, in principle, Iran can have access to nuclear power.
Royal said she will press the international community to ban even Iran’s civilian nuclear program, which she believes will lead to a military one.
"All those who think the contrary show their naivete, and I’m not naive," she told reporters.
"I think that is the greatest danger for the security of Israel and the world ââ¬â and not just Israel, by the way, for that whole part of the world ââ¬â and that we must not let Iran have access to civilian nuclear power," she said. "That will be my position if I am elected president."
Under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran is allowed to have a civilian nuclear program. In a debate last month, Royal’s position on Iran was tough but not clearly spelled out, and candidates accused her of not knowing the basics of the treaty.
