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The Iranian president has said Tehran will continue its nuclear program in spite of the UN Security Council resolutions. What's your reaction? Do you still believe in the effectiveness of sanctions?

We regret these new statements in which President Ahmadinejad shows no sign of opening towards a negotiated solution on his country's sensitive nuclear activities.

Since 2006 the approach of the E3 + 3 has combined dialogue and firmness, providing for sanctions unless Iran suspends its sensitive activities in conformity with Security Council resolutions 1696, 1737 and 1747.

The sanctions against Iran are having effects. Among other things they have induced Iran to begin providing elements of information about pending questions.

Iran must choose between compliance with its international obligations and growing isolation.

What's your reaction to Iran's announcement that it is building a second nuclear plant at Darkhovin, a project apparently not covered by IAEA inspections? What's France going to say about this Thursday when the minister meets Mr. ElBaradei? What are the other points in these talks?

Any project of this nature, if it were carried out, would be subject to IAEA monitoring. As for the meeting between the minister and the IAEA director general, I will tell you about it tomorrow or the day after.

Do you think the discussions on a new sanctions resolution at the UN will be influenced by the IAEA's upcoming report on Iran's cooperation?

Mr. ElBaradei is due to submit a new report before the end of the month, but it is on the basis of his previous report and Mr. Solana's that the E3 + 3 foreign ministers agreed in Berlin on January 22 to send a draft resolution to the Security Council which is currently being discussed with a view to adoption.

President Ahmadjinejad announced this morning the launch in a few months of two new rockets. Is that a further source of concern for you and is this Iranian program consistent with its international obligations and the UN resolutions?

As I've said before, UNSCR 1696, 1737 and 1747 showed the international community's concern at the development of Iran's missile program which could provide delivery vehicles for weapons of mass destruction.

Test-firing these missiles, described as being an illustration of a space program when they have no extra-atmospheric capability, is a further source of concern.

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