[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]

Q: Can you confirm that Iran made an offer to Paris this morning to oversee the enrichment process? What is the Quai d'Orsay's response?

A: It's important to be clear about where matters stand on the Iranian question. The priority is the talks between Mr. Solana and Mr. Larijani. We made an offer to the Iranians, a proposal for "double suspension." We suspend the procedure in the Security Council, and they suspend uranium enrichment activities.

We're waiting for an answer. As Mr. Solana said yesterday, there's been no agreement on the Iranian side on the issue of suspension. We're therefore continuing contacts.

More specifically, with regard to the offer Mr. Saeedi announced this morning, it's a proposal that is in fact totally new, that we ourselves learned about in the context of that interview. What we're familiar with is the offer made by the Six. We offered the Iranians civilian nuclear cooperation that would include the idea of an international facility to be located in Russia so uranium could be enriched and the supply of fuel to Iranian nuclear reactors guaranteed.

It's a position the Six adapted, and we're staying with it. It's just that, as you'll understand, we're at an important stage: are we going to go from talks between Messrs Solana and Larijani to real negotiations? That's definitely what's at stake in the days ahead. If the Iranians agree to suspend their enrichment activities, we'll be able to move on to negotiations with them, and in that context both sides will be able to make proposals.

Q: You say you learned of this offer for the first time this morning? Can you confirm that the offer wasn't mentioned even during a discussion that an Iranian envoy reportedly had with the President Chirac recently?

A: That's exactly what I've just told you in fact. We learned about the offer this morning on the radio, though we know there've been other Iranian proposals made public in the past few months but dealing more with the idea of international consortia in Iran. What's new in Mr. Saeedi's offer is that it is addressed more specifically to France. But we didn't know about it beforehand.

Q: Before, it was up to Mr. Solana and Europe to respond to Iran's offer. Now, it's France more specifically which the offer has been addressed to. How will France answer as an eventual partner of Teheran in order to resolve the crisis and be more involved on the ground by overseeing the enrichment process?

A: We've worked from the outset on this matter in complete harmony with the Six--the three Europeans, the US, China and Russia. We remain in total solidarity with our six partners. The position of the Six and of the international community is clear-it's to tell the Iranians that they must suspend their enrichment activities and that we're ready to suspend the procedure in the Security Council. Then we'll have negotiations in this context, and everyone will be free to make any proposals he wishes.

Q: Is that the condition for studying the Iranian proposal?

A: As we've said, what we're asking, is for double suspension so we can then begin negotiations. Once we're there, the Six will make their proposals, proposals which are already known, and the Iranians will present theirs. I can't prejudge the proposals that Teheran will make. It's in that context that the various proposals can and should be discussed.

Q: So you're rejecting Iran's proposal?

A: Pay attention to what I'm saying. For us, the proposal is totally new. The priority for us is to see in what conditions we can start negotiations with the Iranians. That's all I can say today.

Q: Do you think the Iranians are forging ahead in making this proposal and that at a later date they would be ready to examine things more closely?

A: What I'm saying is that we have to restore confidence in order to create a climate conducive to negotiations. To rebuild confidence we're waiting for the Iranians to make this offer to suspend enrichment. Once confidence is restored, we can start negotiations, and the Iranians will be free to present any proposals they like.

Q: All the same France favors dialogue for resolving the problem with Iran. In which case Iran seems to be seeking a bilateral dialogue with France and, through this dialogue, are you ready to convey a more formal proposal from Iran to the Six to be discussed? Do you expect a more formal proposal from Iran about what Mr. Saeedi said this morning?

A: A channel exists for dialogue with the Iranians--Mr. Solana. Mr. Solana was mandated by the Six. He's pursuing these talks in the name of the Six--the three Europeans, plus the Americans, Russians and Chinese. It's through this channel we're engaged in dialogue with the Iranians on the nuclear question. It's through this channel we await a response from the Iranians on the question of suspension. That's exactly the situation at the present time.

Q: You learned about it on the radio this morning, but has the proposal been conveyed to you more formally or officially?

A: Not to my knowledge.

Q: What's most important is the US in this matter. Is Mr. Solana in contact with the Americans? Iran's rejected the proposal to stop enrichment. Is there a deadline for going to the Security Council?

A: The Americans are not more important than the others. We have six partners without counting the other partners in the international community. All these partners are important. Second, we've not invited the Iranians to stop enrichment; we've invited them to suspend it. This is exactly what Mr. Solana proposed. This is the point on which we're waiting for an Iranian response: suspending enrichment activities.

Mr. Solana is continuing contacts with Mr. Larijani. You saw what Mr. Solana said in Finland yesterday. He said that was no agreement with the Iranians on suspending activities. That means that at some point we have to think about the consequences. Consultations are continuing among the political directors of the Six. As you've seen, it's not a secret, there's the idea of a meeting possibly among the foreign ministers of the Six. At this point, I don't know whether it'll take place, but it's an idea which has been floated. We'll see then the consequences to be considered from the Iranian attitude.

Q: Iran is seeking a direct dialogue with France. Is France ready to serve as an intermediary with Europe and then with the United States?

A: I leave it to you to interpret the Iranian intentions. What is certain is that we stand firmly with the Six. Once again, it's Mr. Solana who is leading the discussions. So there's our position. We've respected it from the start and we've no intention of straying from it.

Q: If the proposal is made to Mr. Solana, are you ready to discuss the matter with the Iranians?

A: Again, I want to draw your attention to the chronology and the various stages. At the present time we're not engaged in negotiations with the Iranians but we're having a discussion between Mr. Solana and Mr. Larijani to define the conditions in which we might enter into a real negotiation. In order to do so, as I said, the Six are ready to suspend the procedures in the Security Council, but the Iranians must suspend their enrichment activities. It's on this specific point that we're waiting for an Iranian response. If there is a positive response from the Iranians on this point, there will be negotiations at which each side will be free to put forward the proposals it wishes.

Q: You said that at some point you would have to think about the consequences. It was supposed to be the beginning of October. We're already at the beginning of October. Would it be towards the end of the week?

A: We're relying on Mr. Solana's assessment. He's had contacts with Mr. Larijani. There's the possibility of further contacts with Mr. Larijani. As he said himself, there's no Iranian agreement on enrichment suspension. When Mr. Solana tells us he's at the end of his efforts and thinks he can go no further to obtain a positive response from the Iranians, we will confer among the Six and consider the next steps, and keep in mind that we're not starting from zero since there's already a Security Council resolution that was adopted at the end of July, SCR 1696, providing for the next steps by the international community.

Q: Were you surprised by the Iranian offer?

A: As I told you, it was totally new for us. In a way, it came as a surprise.

Q: If you go to the Security Council, what sanctions are you considering?

A: Once again we're not there. There may still be a possible change in attitude on the part of the Iranians. It's up to Mr. Solana to say where he is in his contacts with the Iranians. Then we'll see. SCR 1696 envisions measures under article 41 of the UN charter, so there's the possibility of restrictive measures in some areas. We'll see when we get there, bearing in mind that in such matters, there's a whole raft of possible measures and they can always be gradual and reversible.

Q: What's happening regarding Eurodif?

A: As you know, there was a fairly lengthy negotiation on this question and an agreement was reached.

Q: In principle, according to the agreement, I believe that Iran was entitled to part of the enriched uranium?

A: I don't have all the details of the agreement.

Q: In the event of sanctions against Iran, there's the risk of Iran taking retaliatory measures. Is France worried about its economic interests in Iran? Secondly, can you tell us briefly, if you have the figures, the amount of French investment in Iran?

A: As concerns your first question, I don't wish to speak of sanctions today. We're at the stage where we're waiting for Mr. Solana to tell us, "I've spoken to Mr. Larijani and here's my analysis of the situation." Then, there'll be a meeting of the Six and we'll decide. So I don't want to put my self in the hypothetical situation you just mentioned. As you know, from the start, on the French side, that's clearly not the path we've favored. Our approach, which we've favored from the beginning, is one of dialogue.

As for France's economic interests, I don't have the latest statistics before me. I believe that France is one of Iran's most important European partners, along with other countries like Germany and Italy, but I don't have the figures to hand.

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