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IRAN

Q. - You've said you were optimistic about a resumption of the dialogue with the Iranians. Could you explain the basis for your optimism? Is there a deadline to be met, before the matter is referred to the Security Council?

THE MINISTER - As we have said, we welcome the fact that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has adopted a resolution by consensus which calls on the Iranians to suspend all dangerous nuclear activities.

Now, we shall keep to the facts. We await the report to be made by the Director General of the Agency on 3 September, and we shall then see what has to be done.

Q. - Have the Iranians definitively rejected your proposal of a meeting in Paris?

THE MINISTER - We welcome the fact that we now have an Agency resolution adopted by consensus that calls on the Iranians to suspend their nuclear activities. We think negotiations are still possible, particularly with the Europeans, provided the Iranians suspend those activities. The door is still open to negotiations. We firmly believe this, and we see that the international community is united in calling for the suspension of those Iranian nuclear activities. We await the IAEA report on 3 September and we'll see, on the basis of the facts.

Q. - Do you have alternative proposals, in the event of a rejection?

THE MINISTER - We're not at that point.

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