United Against Iran?
The French are not the types to mince their words, and foreign minister Philippe Douste-Blazy is no exception:
"No civil nuclear programme can explain the Iranian nuclear programme. It is a clandestine military nuclear programme," he said.
But is he right? Probably. The only chance Iran has of proving its benign intentions is to accept the Russian offer to assist with uranium enrichment on Russian soil. Otherwise, it's a pretty certain thing.
Then again, why shouldn't Iran develop nuclear power? Sure, it has massive oil reserves. But it realises that in a way it is just as reliant on oil exports as other countries are on imports. Anything goes wrong, and it's down the sink. It's just as well to have an alternative, just in case. Besides, one day the oil will run out too.
Perhaps the greatest significance of this story is the apparent unity of the UNSC, plus Germany as the 'three' of the EU3 of Britain and France. As Mr Douste-Blazy points out, it's not often that the US, UK, France, Russia and China are agreed on something.
Perhaps, however, this goes beyond the Iran nuclear issue. France and Russia are both keen to assert their presence on the international stage, and this is a PR-friendly way to do it.
Most interesting is China, in the past a serial abstainer from these kind of debates. And China has a lot to lose - it is a big importer of oil from Iran. Could it be that the dragon has awoken and wants to play the UN game at last?
Article form the BBC reprinted below.
France steps up rhetoric on Iran
France has for the first time explicitly accused Iran of using its nuclear programme as a cover for clandestine military nuclear activity.
Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told French TV no civilian programme could explain Iran's activity.
Iran says it resumed small-scale uranium enrichment work last week, after the UN nuclear watchdog reported it to the Security Council.
But Tehran insists the programme is solely for peaceful purposes.
Iranian chief nuclear negotiator sharply denied the charges made by Mr Douste-Blazy.
"Contrary to all the propaganda against us, we are not seeking a nuclear bomb, since we are a signatory to (the nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)," he said on French radio.
"We are a responsible country - it is Western propaganda that keeps on saying that Iran is seeking a bomb, but it is not true."
Meanwhile China has expressed concern about the nuclear issue.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Beijing wanted a peaceful solution by diplomatic means.
The International Atomic Energy Agency resolution - supported by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council - could lead to eventual sanctions against Iran, although any action has been put off until a report by the head of the IAEA on 6 March.
Iranian officials are due to hold talks with Russia on 20 February to discuss uranium enrichment on Russian soil as a possible compromise.
But Mr Douste-Blazy said Iran was being disingenuous.
"No civil nuclear programme can explain the Iranian nuclear programme. It is a clandestine military nuclear programme," he said.
"The international community has sent a very strong message to the Iranians - show reason, suspend all nuclear activities and uranium enrichment. And they're not listening to us."
"That is the reason why, for the first time for days, the international community is united. It's not just the Europeans - France, Germany and the British - it's also Russia and China."
