Agence France Presse – An Iranian newspaper called on the government on Wednesday to preempt any UN action over its nuclear programme by imposing sanctions of its own against France, a major investor in the country.
In a no-holds-barred attack on Paris, Jomhouri Eslami accused French President Jacques Chirac of taking advantage of Iranians and "having treated Iran in a way not even the United States has yet dared to do."
It said France, whose companies including Renault, Peugeot and Total are among the most important foreign investors in Iran, should be "set aside from Iran’s profitable market".
"Paris, with its investment of 25 billion euros over the past 15 years, has earned a considerable position in Iran’s economy … Mr. Chirac cannot both flirt with enemies and us and, at the same time, plunder Iranians’ wealth," the paper said.
The editorial came as the UN Security Council’s five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany discussed a draft resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme.
However, amid opposition from China and Russia, world powers remain deadlocked over the draft text, which would hit on Iran’s nuclear industry and ballistic missile programme. It could some time before an agreement is reached.
"Let us set aside France from Iran’s profitable market and show others that they should play by the book in economic relations with Iran," the newspaper said.
"His (Chirac’s) participation in (making) a resolution to set sanctions against Iran, and at the same time benefitting from the Iranian market is not acceptable and tolerable."
Jomhouri Eslami said Iran’s other economic partners must see that "our patience toward their irresponsible actions is limited and we will do the same thing that they would have done long ago if they were in our shoes."
