AGL 40.21 Increased By ▲ 0.18 (0.45%)
AIRLINK 127.64 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-0.05%)
BOP 6.67 Increased By ▲ 0.06 (0.91%)
CNERGY 4.45 Decreased By ▼ -0.15 (-3.26%)
DCL 8.73 Decreased By ▼ -0.06 (-0.68%)
DFML 41.16 Decreased By ▼ -0.42 (-1.01%)
DGKC 86.11 Increased By ▲ 0.32 (0.37%)
FCCL 32.56 Increased By ▲ 0.07 (0.22%)
FFBL 64.38 Increased By ▲ 0.35 (0.55%)
FFL 11.61 Increased By ▲ 1.06 (10.05%)
HUBC 112.46 Increased By ▲ 1.69 (1.53%)
HUMNL 14.81 Decreased By ▼ -0.26 (-1.73%)
KEL 5.04 Increased By ▲ 0.16 (3.28%)
KOSM 7.36 Decreased By ▼ -0.09 (-1.21%)
MLCF 40.33 Decreased By ▼ -0.19 (-0.47%)
NBP 61.08 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.05%)
OGDC 194.18 Decreased By ▼ -0.69 (-0.35%)
PAEL 26.91 Decreased By ▼ -0.60 (-2.18%)
PIBTL 7.28 Decreased By ▼ -0.53 (-6.79%)
PPL 152.68 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (0.1%)
PRL 26.22 Decreased By ▼ -0.36 (-1.35%)
PTC 16.14 Decreased By ▼ -0.12 (-0.74%)
SEARL 85.70 Increased By ▲ 1.56 (1.85%)
TELE 7.67 Decreased By ▼ -0.29 (-3.64%)
TOMCL 36.47 Decreased By ▼ -0.13 (-0.36%)
TPLP 8.79 Increased By ▲ 0.13 (1.5%)
TREET 16.84 Decreased By ▼ -0.82 (-4.64%)
TRG 62.74 Increased By ▲ 4.12 (7.03%)
UNITY 28.20 Increased By ▲ 1.34 (4.99%)
WTL 1.34 Decreased By ▼ -0.04 (-2.9%)
BR100 10,086 Increased By 85.5 (0.85%)
BR30 31,170 Increased By 168.1 (0.54%)
KSE100 94,764 Increased By 571.8 (0.61%)
KSE30 29,410 Increased By 209 (0.72%)

Iran's controversial nuclear programme is one of the gravest threats currently facing the world, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner was quoted as saying in an interview in Israel on Sunday.
"The Iranian nuclear programme is one of the gravest crises currently hanging over world order," he was quoted as saying in the Haaretz newswpaper, while also insisting on "reaching a negotiated settlement agreeable to all." The UN Security Council has still to decide whether to impose a third round of sanctions on Tehran, which the West fears is trying to covertly develop a nuclear weapon. Iran says its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.
An International Atomic Energy Agency report issued this week said Iran had taken important steps in revealing the extent of its nuclear programme but was still defying UN demands that it suspend uranium enrichment.
Kouchner said France intends "to continue with great determination along this path (sanctions) which is the only way to bring about an agreed solution."
However he also said that Paris saw sanctions as the only path "that will prevent us from having, one day, to be faced with a dilemma of 'an Iranian bomb or bombing Iran'." Kouchner also said that France "will never compromise on Israel's security."
Israel is widely considered to have the Middle East's sole - albeit undeclared - nuclear arsenal, with an estimated 200 warheads. Meeting with Kouchner, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert warned that "the time for dealing with this issue is dwindling."
"According to Israeli assessments, if all circumstances work in Iran's favour, from a technological point of view, Iran may by the end of 2009 have all the components for prepare a nuclear bomb," a statement from Olmert's office quoted him as telling Kouchner.
The French foreign minister is in Israel for talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders aimed at ensuring the success of a peace meeting planned for Annapolis in the United States before the end of this month.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2007

Comments

Comments are closed.