[Please note that only the original French text issued by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs may be considered official.]
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Q - Yesterday the minister referred to the plan to send a French envoy to Tehran. Can you confirm that the idea has been dropped?
A - What the minister said, and what he'd said previously, is that he wouldn't be visiting Teheran any time soon. With regard to a visit by an envoy who doesn't have ministerial rank, no decision has been taken.
Q - Could you comment on Tehran's decision to exclude 38 IAEA inspectors? Are you worried and might it have consequences?
A - We noted with concern Tehran's announcement that 38 inspectors, nationals of specific countries, would not be allowed to work in Iran.
The announcement is not, in our view, compatible with the demands made in resolution 1737 whereby the Security Council decided that "Iran shall provide such access and cooperation as the IAEA requests to be able to verify the suspension and resolve all outstanding issues as identified in its reports."
We therefore expect the IAEA to evaluate the new situation brought about by Iran's decision, and to act accordingly.
Q - As you know, there are about 200 inspectors. Is the number 38 just a symbolic gesture which is annoying or do you think it is going to impede the work of the IAEA?
A - As you say, Iran has targeted a number of nationalities since apparently it's inspectors who are nationals of certain European countries and also Canada who have been targeted.
We believe it is not up to Iran to choose the nationalities of the IAEA inspectors who work on its territory. In any case, we think it is incompatible with the demands in resolution 1737 which ask Iran to provide access and cooperation on its territory. This is something which clearly doesn't go in the right direction, and the IAEA will undoubtedly have to recognize the consequences.
Q - They are entitled to choose which inspectors are allowed?
A - In any case, it's not a sign of goodwill, nor of wanting to cooperate with the international community.
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