Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the French ambassador Sunday to protest the European country’s policy toward Teheran’s nuclear program, state media reported.
France has been a vocal supporter of a new round of sanctions against Iran for the country’s refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for a nuclear reactor or fissile material for a bomb.
“In the meeting (with the French ambassador), Iran protested France’s policy toward Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities,” said a report on the Web site of Iran’s state broadcasting company.
Earlier Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini accused French President Nicolas Sarkozy of open hostility toward Iran.
“We have been witnessing hostile stances from Mr. Sarkozy and [France’s] administration,” said Hosseini during his weekly press briefing.
“In the case of the continuation of that policy, we will revise our stance, which has been based on self-restraint so far,” added Hosseini, without providing details.
The permanent members of the UN Security Council, including France, are considering a new draft resolution that calls for additional sanctions against Iran, including bans on travel. Two sets of sanctions have already been imposed on Iran for refusing to halt enrichment.
France also has led a separate push for new sanctions by the 27-member European Union.
Hosseini said despite the possibility of new sanctions, “Iran will continue its cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA.”
