PARIS, July 23 (Xinhua) — France affirmed Monday the urgency of sending a "firm message" over the Iranian nuclear issue, while advocating for negotiations within the United Nations (UN) with a view of adopting a fresh resolution calling for sanctions against Iran.
"As long as Iran refuses to accept the suspension of sensitive activities, we must clearly continue to send a firm message," said the French foreign ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau, during a press briefing on France’s reaction to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s demand for new sanctions against Iran.
"Resolution 1747 had demanded a report from IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)’s director general on May 24. The report which was submitted confirmed that Iran was not implementing UN security council’s resolutions. Since May 24, Solana agreed to meet Larijani again on several occasions. He persistently explained the position of E3+3 and the offer made to Iran. Despite all that, Iran has refused to heed calls to suspend its nuclear activities," said Simonneau.
"In such conditions, and as long as Iran refuses to accept the suspension of sensitive activities, we must clearly continue to send a firm message. We must therefore, in conformity with resolution 1747, revert to the UN security council, and undertake the necessary consultations with a view of adopting a third resolution calling for sanctions. This new firm resolution must clearly indicate to Iran that its stubbornness will lead to its increased isolation, and harm its economy, its population and its opening to the outside world," affirmed the spokesman.
