. . .

Q: I think I understand the region: can we not follow the United States' line - imposing sanctions on Iran if the enrichment programme is not halted?

Would there not be a double benefit in terms of EU interests: dissipating the fear that this nuclear enrichment programme is perhaps engendering, and showing that Iran must respect the sovereignty of Lebanon, notably by refraining from financing Hezbollah and providing it with arms, as it is suspected of doing?

THE MINISTER: In the case of Iran, you will be aware that the response to the ambitious proposals put to her by Russia, China, the United States, Britain, France and Germany arrived yesterday, via our ambassadors in Tehran. It is a long and complex document and we are in the process of studying it. We'll comment later.

For the present, we have asked for a meeting with our European partners, particularly with the members of the E3 as well as with Javier Solana.

I heard Mr Larijani say yesterday that he was ready to resume negotiations. I would like to repeat that France is ready to negotiate and that, as we have always said and as Mr Larijani very well knows, the return to the negotiating table is linked to the suspension of the uranium enrichment programme.

Q: Several weeks ago you somewhat surprised the Israelis and others by saying that Iran was, I quote, "a stabilizing force in the region". Now that Iran has decided to continue with her nuclear programme, is this still your view? As you are well aware, Iran is arming Hezbollah, among others.

THE MINISTER: Let's not confuse the issues. In the case of Iran, we must respond - and indeed we have done so - firmly to the Iranian nuclear issue. I remind you that France chaired the UN Security Council on 31 July 2006. On that occasion, we chose to vote unanimously, apart from one voice, for a resolution imposing sanctions on Iran in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter, article 41, with regard to her nuclear programme.

We must therefore respond to the Iranian nuclear issue with the utmost firmness. I said a moment ago that the hand is always extended, that negotiation is possible as long as it is desired by the other side. The Iranians know the rules of the game; sensitive nuclear activities must first be suspended.

With regard to the Israeli-Lebanese conflict, as President Chirac said in an interview in the "Le Monde" newspaper, either Iran wants to play an important role in the region - in which case we say that this is precisely the time to show it, to show that the region can be stabilized - or she declines to do so, and instead takes the risk of isolating the international community. The situation is clear.

. . .